Commons Sitting of 14 June 1915

Preamble
The House met at a Quarter before Three of the clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Metropolitan District Railway Bill,
Seaforth and Sefton Junction Railway Bill,
Lords Amendments considered, and agreed to.
Ormskirk Gas and Electricity Bill [Lords],
Read the third time, and passed, with Amendments.
Weardale and Consett Water Bill,
Read the third time, and passed.
Ashington Urban District Council Bill [Lords], Eastern Valleys (Monmouthshire) Joint Sewerage Board Bill [Lords], Prescot Gas Bill [Lords], Staly-bridge, Hyde, Mossley, and Dukinfield Tramways and Electricity Board Bill [Lords], Wolverhampton Corporation Water Bill [Lords],
Read a second time, and committed.
London County Council (General Powers) Bill (by Order),
Consideration, as amended, deferred till Monday next.
Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 2) Bill,
Gas and Water Provisional Orders (No. 1) Bill,
As amended, considered; to be read the third time To-morrow.
Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 4) Bill,
Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 8) Bill,
Local Government Provisional Orders (No. 9) Bill,
Read a second time, and committed.
Marriages Provisional Order Bill,
"To confirm a Provisional Order made by one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State under The Provisional Order (Marriages) Act, 1905." Presented by Mr. BRACE.
Ordered, That Standing Order 193a be suspended, and that the Bill be now read the first time.—[The Chairman of Ways and Means.]
Bill accordingly read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, and to be printed. [Bill 98.]

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
Copy presented of Summary of Accidents and Casualties as reported to the Board of Trade by the several Railway Companies in the United Kingdom during the three months ended 31st December, 1914, together with Reports to the Board of Trade by the Inspecting Officers upon certain Accidents which were inquired into [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
NATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHERS (IRELAND) PENSION FUND.
Annual Accounts presented of Receipts and Payments for the year 1914 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
AERONAUTICS.
Copy presented of Report of the Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the year 1914–15 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
SUPERANNUATION ACT, 1887.
Copy presented of Treasury Minute, dated 14th May, 1915, granting a Retired Allowance to Richard Thomas Perry, Assistant Inspector of Postmen, Harrow Post Office [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
IRISH UNIVERSITES ACT, 1908.
Copy presented of Statute V. of the National University of Ireland [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 259.]

TUBERCULOSIS (HUMAN AND BOVINE) (ROYAL COMMISSION).
Copy presented of Final Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the relations of Human and Animal

477
Tuberculosis. Part II. Appendix. Volume VII. Graphic Charts [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS (CONDITIONAL LICENCE).
Copy presented of Licence granted to a convict discharging her from Aylesbury Prison on condition that she enters a home [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

SHOPS ACT, 1912.
Copies presented of Orders made by the Councils of the undermentioned local authorities, and confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department:—
County of Cornwall (urban district of Newquay);
County of Glamorgan (urban district of Bridgend);
City of Gloucester
[by Act]; to lie upon the Table.

EAST INDIA (TERRITORIAL TROOPS).
Copy presented of Comparison between Pay Allowances and Regular Compulsory Deductions in the case of Infantry Privates at Home and in India [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
EAST INDIA (RAILWAYS AND IRRIGATION WORKS).
Return presented relative thereto [Address 9th June; Sir Robert Price]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 260.]
Copy presented of the Progress of the Ordnance Survey to 31st March, 1915 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
NEW MEMBER SWORN.
Urban Hanlon Broughton, Esq., for the Borough of Preston.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
  WAR.

    SKILLED LABOUR (NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS).
    Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any and what instructions have been given to the newspapers restrictive of advertisements by manufacturers and employers seeking skilled labour; whether any instructions have been given that such advertisements are not to state that the labour is required for Government or War Office work; and, if so, what is the reason for such instructions?
    The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman): No instructions have been given to the newspapers on this subject, but the attention of certain associations of newspaper proprietors has been called to the restrictions on advertisements contained in the Order in Council of 29th April, and notice was also given of the arrangements for enabling advertisements to be submitted for the approval of the Board of Trade. There is no objection to statements that the labour is required for Government or War Office work; on the contrary, the specimen advertisement issued by the Board contains the words "Wanted for Government work." The detailed procedure in this connection is under discussion between the Board of Trade and the Associations of Newspaper Proprietors.
    Mr. TERRELL. Do I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the leave of the Board of Trade or the Labour Exchanges has to be obtained before any advertisements can be inserted for labour?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: I can only refer the hon. Gentleman to the Order in Council of 29th April, which gives a full account of the obligations under which the newspapers are placed. We are hoping, by an arrangement with the Newspaper Proprietors' Association to arrange whatever is necessary for the convenience both of newspapers and ourselves.
    Mr. TERRELL: Are the employers being considered in the matter, and is not

    479
    the tendency of these Orders in Council to throw the whole business into the hands of the Labour Exchanges?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: No, Sir, in a matter of this kind, in employment on munition work, the first consideration is the State and not the employers, but in this case we must consider the supply of labour for the best production of munitions.
    Mr. TERRELL: I do not think the right hon. Gentleman understands me. I am dealing with the case of employers who are engaged on work for the State.
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: I think the hon. Gentleman misunderstands my reply: The reply which I have given to this and other questions was perfectly clear, that the Order in Council was framed, and the Regulations under the Order in Council have been worked, with the object of preventing employers who are working for the State from losing the labour which they now have.
    Mr. TERRELL: If the Labour Exchanges fail to get the additional labour, what is the employer to do?
    Mr. NIELD: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the immediate vicinity of London important firms engaged on Government work, such as electrical engineers, and others with a large plant, are hopelessly unable to get the skilled labour which they require, and whether or not they are still to be prohibited from asking for that labour from a distance where it is not engaged on Government work?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: No, Sir, the employers are not prohibited from applying for labour from a distance. If they will put their applications through the ordinary channels no doubt help will be given, but the affairs of any particular company cannot be dealt with in answer to questions without notice.

    COAL SUPPLY.
    Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps, if any, he proposes to take to secure an adequate Supply of coal for gas and electric undertakings; and (2) what steps, if any, he proposes to take to bring the price of coal down to its proper economic level?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: I do not think I can usefully add anything at present to the general statement I made in the House on Thursday last.
    Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average time per week worked by coal miners, and what powers he possesses under the Defence of the Realm Act to increase the output of coal and to restrict prices?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: The average number of days per week worked by coal mines in May was 5.64. I do not think the question of coal supply and prices could well be dealt with under the Defence of the Realm Act.

    WAR PROFITS.
    Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the increase in profit of the King's Norton Metal Company from £37,548 for 1913–14 to £131,097 for 1914–15; whether he has yet found a way, as recommended by the Secretary of State for War, to allow the workers to participate in the benefits automatically accruing to these companies from the War; or whether any scheme has yet been devised and put into operation for the limitation of war profits?
    Mr. RUNCIMAN: The profits of this company for 1913–14 were as stated in the question, but the Board of Trade have no information as to the profits for the subsequent year. The whole question of the method of limitation of the profits of armament firms is now being considered by the Government.

    INDIAN ARMY (PROMOTIONS TO COMMANDANT).
    Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether officers serving as second in command of Infantry regiments of the Indian Army on field service out of India are debarred, by reason of attaining the age of fifty, from promotion to commandant; and, if so, whether, under the circumstances now existing, he will authorise a relaxation of the age rules in special cases where they occasion real hardship?
    The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain): It was decided in 1913 that no officer of an Infantry regiment of

    481
    the Indian Army, who has attained the age of fifty, or of a Cavalry regiment, who has reached the age of forty-eight, could be regarded as eligible for appointment as commandant. As regards Cavalry regiments, sanction was given in May last year, on the proposal of the Government of India, to the relaxation of this rule, where it might involve cases of hardship, provided that such relaxation is recommended by the Commander-in-Chief in India. The responsible authorities have not thought it necessary to propose a similar relaxation in the case of Infantry regiments, in which the age limit is two years higher.
    Colonel YATE: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is not a case of real hardship that an officer second in command of a regiment now serving at the front should be debarred from holding the command of that or of any other regiment simply because he happens to have attained the age of fifty years?
    Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: I said that the responsible authorities in India have not thought it necessary to propose a similar relaxation in the case of Infantry regiments. My hon. and gallant Friend will be as much alive as I am to the general objections which there are to increasing the age limit for officers under present conditions. I do not think that I ought to make any proposal to the responsible authorities on the subject, though, of course, I should consider any proposal which they made to me.

    MARESFIELD PARK, SUSSEX.
    Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Home Secretary whether Prince Minister, aide-de-camp to the German Emperor, is the owner of Maresfield Park, Sussex; whether this property, with a valuable herd of cattle in the park, is being preserved intact for its enemy owner; and whether it is proposed to make full use of its resources for the benefit of British subjects?
    The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon): The Maresfield Park Estate is now in the custody of the Public Trustee, who is administering it in the interests of this country under the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1914. He informs me that there is no herd of valuable cattle in the park.
    482
    The four cows there are of the ordinary kind, and are doing their utmost for the benefit of British subjects.
    Mr. BUTCHER: Are all the rooms in this House placed at the disposal of the officers?
    Sir J. SIMON: I think there is a question on that subject addressed to the Under-Secretary of State for War.
    Mr. OUTHWAITE: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government will consider the advisability of making all parks available for the benefit of the British public?
    Mr. SPEAKER: That question does not arise.
    Sir ARTHUR MARKHAM: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that large quantities of game are being reared by these aliens, Baron Schroeder and others, and taking the food which ought to be required for the people?
    Mr. SPEAKER: Baron Schroeder does not live at Maresfield Park.
    Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Under-Secretary for War whether Maresfield Park, Sussex, is the property of Prince Münster, aide-de-camp to the German Emperor, serving in the German Army, and has been requisitioned for the use of British troops who are quartered there; whether the best rooms in the mansion are closed to officers, who have to live three in a room in the servants' quarters and to mess in the servants' hall; whether the woods in the grounds are still under the care of Prince Münster's steward, who forbids officers and men to trespass in them for fear of disturbing Prince Münster's pheasants; and whether he will forthwith give orders that the entire house and grounds shall be at the unrestricted disposal of the British officers and men quartered there?
    The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant): The mansion at Maresfield Park, Sussex, is in occupation by a brigade Headquarters staff, and by the officers of one Yeomanry regiment. Two Yeomanry regiments are encamped in the park. The whole of the accommodation required is available and is utilised. The officers are comfortably housed, and do not mess in the servant's hall, but in a large room most suitable in every way,

    483
    the dining-room being too small for the purpose. The woods of the estate are placed out of bounds to the troops for military and disciplinary reasons. I am informed that there are no pheasants there.

    WAR NEWS (REPORTS OF "EYEWITNESS" WITH INDIAN TROOPS).
    Sir J. D. REESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the reports or descriptions of "Eye-Witness" with the Indian troops are published in India after being duly censored, but are of equal interest in the United Kingdom with the reports or descriptions of "Eye-Witness" with the British troops; and whether he will arrange for simultaneous, if not earlier, publication of such reports or descriptions in the United Kingdom in the Press in general, and in newspapers such as the "Indiaman," which specially serve those whose interests centre in the Indian services?
    Mr. TENNANT: These articles have been written primarily with a view to meeting the wishes of the Government of India. They could not have been published here before they appear in India. I know of no general desire for the publication of them in the Press in this country, but if the "Indiaman" should desire to publish them simultaneously with their publication in India that could, I think, be arranged.

    FIRES (POLICE INQUIRIES).
    Mr. NIELDasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the number and character of fires which have, since the outbreak of war, taken places throughout the country, and especially in those which have consumed factories or other premises used for industrial purposes; and whether, in order to allay public anxiety as to the origin of such fires and to ascertain the facts both as to past or future conflagrations, he will introduce a measure to apply the City of London Fire Inquests Act, 1888, to the whole of the United Kingdom and treat it as emergency legislation?
    Sir J. SIMON: Close attention is being given to this subject and the police examine into every case where there is ground for suspicion. The number of fires
    484
    since the outbreak of war has not, so far as my information goes, been unusually large. I will consider the suggestion contained in the question, but as at present advised, I think inquiry by the police, made without unnecessary publicity, is likely to be more effective in cases where a hostile act is suspected than a coroner's inquiry, the publicity of which might defeat the object in view.
    Mr. NIELD: Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to make another suggestion to him?
    Sir J. SIMON: With pleasure, if my hon. Friend will communicate with me.

    INFANT MORTALITY.
    Mr. LOUGHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the increase of infant mortality both in London and throughout the country; and whether, having regard to the seriousness and urgency of this question in its relation to the problems created by the War, he can see his way to introduce and pass as an uncontentious measure a Bill which, by the more stringent enforcement of the prompt registration of birth, the greater safeguarding of the health of mothers, the establishment of public crêches, or other methods, may tend to abate this evil?
    The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Long): I am fully aware of the importance of this matter, and, as I intimated to a deputation on Thursday last, I am anxious to introduce without delay a measure making the Notification of Births Act of general application and conferring certain powers on local authorities for safeguarding the health of infants and expectant mothers. I shall be very glad if hon. Members will co-operate with me in securing the unopposed passage of the Bill.
    Mr. CATHCART WASON: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will confer with his right hon. Friend sitting next to him as to the enormous quantity of drunkenness there is amongst the mothers and women in many parts of London?
    Mr. LONG: I have two of my right hon. Friends sitting next to me, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are in possession of very full information on

    485
    various aspects of this case, and he may rely on us to do our best to improve the conditions.

    POOR LAW UNIONS (ABLE-BODIED INMATES).
    Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any record of the number of able-bodied male persons at present inmates of the Poor Law unions in England and Wales, and what that number is; whether he will consider the advisability of utilising any such available labour in country districts to assist in getting in the hay harvest and in other ways to supply in part the dearth of agricultural labour; and whether any special facilities are or can be given for such inmates as are of recruiting age to join the naval or military forces of the Crown or to be required to undertake work of a productive kind in connection with the supplies of munitions or equipment for the Services?
    Mr. LONG: I cannot give the hon. Member exact figures, but, according to my information, the number of men still in Poor Law institutions who might be eligible for military service or who are sufficiently able-bodied to be employed in the other directions referred to is almost negligible. No special facilities are needed to enable any men for whom work is available to be discharged from these institutions. I may, in addition, say that in some cases I have selected for examination the numbers described as able-bodied have been rapidly decreasing during successive months of this year, and even where they are able-bodied they are very often not in any way suitable for military or any other very strenuous service.

    VOTERS' LISTS.
    Mr. KINGasked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is intended to provide, either by legislation or order, for the making up of the lists of registered voters in such a manner as to retain as electors for 1916 all those who are on the existing lists and those who would have been placed on the 1916 lists but for circumstances arising out of the War?
    Mr. LONG: A statement will be made very shortly as to the course which is proposed to be adopted.

    MUNITIONS.

      SKILLED WORKERS.
      Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether all the turning lathes and high-grade machines in the technical schools and colleges of the country have been used in producing munitions of war; and whether, for the necessary testing of materials, the testing laboratories of the colleges will be placed at the disposal of the Minister of Munitions; and (2) whether he has yet drafted a scheme so that the services of trained chemists and scientists, engaged as teachers and lecturers in the technical departments of our schools and colleges, can be used, as in Germany and France, in directing and improving the scientific processes upon which the issue of this War will depend?
      Mr. RUNCIMAN: I understand that the Board of Education have already communicated with the leading technical schools and institutions of the country, with a view to ascertaining the supply of skilled workers, and advising them to communicate with the nearest armament centre and munitions committee to which they could offer assistance in the output of munitions of war. The institutions have responded in the most public-spirited way; and, without going into details, I think I may say that the equipment, staff, and students of the institutions are being extensively employed in a great variety of ways on scientific and technical work ancillary to war purposes.

      SCHOOL HOLIDAYS (TEACHERS).
      Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that thousands of teachers not qualified for enlistment are prepared to offer their services for war work during the school holidays this summer; and whether he proposes to take any steps to enable those volunteering their services to be used to the best advantage of the State?
      Mr. RUNCIMAN: My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The Board of Trade, Queen Anne's Chambers, Broadway, S.W., are prepared to receive applications from volunteers to undertake work for national purposes during their holidays. Such applications should give as full particulars as possible of previous experience and conditions in respect of date, period, locality, and character of work subject to

      487
      which the offer of service is made. My hon. Friend will, of course, understand that it is not altogether an easy matter to utilise such temporary services.
      Mr. E. JONES: Will the teachers be distributed about the country and not kept in one centre?
      Mr. RUNCIMAN: I should not like to go into details. We are working in harmony with the Ministry of Munitions. In some respects the teachers will be needed to work centrally, but a great many will be able to do local work.

      RESTRICTIONS OF PRIVATE WORK.
      Sir CHARLES HENRYasked the Prime Minister if, in order that labour may be liberated and material made available by which the pressing requirements of the State may be fulfilled as expeditiously as possible, if the powers under the Defence of the Realm Act are not adequate, he will introduce legislation so as to empower the Government to restrict all work of a constructive or manufacturing character, when it is deemed that the labour and material required for such work could be utilised at the present juncture to better advantage?
      The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith): The question of utilising to the best advantage all labour and material suitable for the production of munitions of war is receiving the earnest consideration of His Majesty's Government, and they will not fail to ask for any further legislative powers that may be found necessary for the purpose.

    OFFICERS' PROMOTION (ROYAL NAVY).
    Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that many naval officers ashore and afloat have held acting rank for considerable periods without being confirmed in that rank by promotion and without becoming entitled to the pension attached to that rank; whether such officers are penalised by loss of seniority when officers junior to them in their actual rank are promoted in the ordinary course: and whether he will undertake that all officers after three months' acting service in any rank shall be confirmed in such rank and shall be entitled to pension accordingly?
    The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara): I am aware of the fact stated in the first part of the question. It is, however, to be pointed out that in the Naval Service acting higher appointments are not necessarily made in vacancies and in the majority of cases are additional to the authorised establishment. If widows' pension is referred to, acting rank counts as confirmed rank for this purpose. As regards the second part of the question, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that promotion in the Navy in the majority of cases is by selection and no officer has any claim to promotion simply on the ground that he has been granted acting higher rank. I regret I am unable to give the undertaking asked for in the third part of the question.

    LOSS OF "PRINCESS IRENE" (PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES).
    Mr. WHELERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what scale the widows and orphans of the men who were killed in the recent explosion on the "Princess Irene" will be placed as regards pensions and allowances?
    Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEalso asked whether, as regards pensions and allowances, the widows and orphans of the men killed on the "Princess Irene" will be placed in the same category as the widows and orphans of men killed on active service?
    Dr. MACNAMARA: Pensions and allowances to the widows and children of the naval ratings will be awarded on the scale recommended in the Special Report of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Services (Pensions and Grants). Applications for these should be addressed to the Director of Greenwich Hospital, Admiralty, Whitehall. Awards to the dependants of the specially entered mercantile crew and of the dockyard workmen who lost their lives in the disaster will be granted under the provisions of the scheme framed under the Injuries in War (Compensation) Act, 1914. The general provisions of this scheme are that widows receive a pension equal to one-third of the peace pay of their late husbands' rank or 10s. a week if greater. Children receive one twenty-fourth of the pay, or 2s. 6d. a week if greater, up to the age of sixteen. Awards to other dependants

    489
    vary according to the degree of dependence and other circumstances within the maximum of a widow's pension. Applications should be addressed to the Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, Whitehall.
    Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: Has the maintenance allowance reference to any number of children?
    Dr. MACNAMARA: I think each child will receive a twenty-fourth of the pay, or 2s. 6d. a week.

    STATUS OF ALIENS (BRITISH NATIONALITY).
    Mr. RADFORDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Part II. of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, which received the Royal Assent on the 7th August last, has been adopted, wholly or in part, by the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and by Newfoundland, or by any of them; and, if so, at what dates was it accepted by the Dominions, respectively?
    The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law): Acts for the adoption of Part II. of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, have been passed by the legislatures of the Dominion of Canada and of Newfoundland. The Canadian legislation was passed in 1914, and came into force (as the Imperial Act itself did) on 1st January, 1915. The Newfoundland Act was passed on 29th April, 1915. It is understood that the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa propose to pass legislation for the same purpose as soon as practicable.

    INCOME TAX (WAR INSURANCE OF EMPLOYES).
    Colonel RUTHERFORDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if employers who have insured the lives of their employés (who have recently joined the Colours) solely for the benefit of the employés' relatives or dependants can deduct the premiums from their Income Tax return?
    The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKenna): The Board of Inland Revenue will raise no objection
    490
    if, in the circumstances described, the District Commissioners of Taxes treat the premiums as expenses of the business for the purpose of which the insured are employed.

    ROYAL ENGINEER OFFICERS (PROMOTION).
    Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that junior officers in the Royal Engineers, who having completed their full training period at Woolwich and taken their commissions, in some cases upwards of twelve months before the commencement of the War, and who have ever since been on active service at the front, have been kept without promotion, while others who have obtained temporary commissions in the same branch of the service since the War have in numerous cases been promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and occasionally to captain over the heads of such first-named officers; and whether he will take steps to remove this alleged grievance by promotions in suitable cases so ante-dated as to preserve seniority?
    Mr. TENNANT: Promotion must be made with reference to the requirements of the unit concerned. If some temporarily commissioned officers at home have been advanced in rank when they have less service than permanently commissioned officers of the same rank, this will be because it is not possible to withdraw officers from the front to fill vacancies in higher ranks at home in the New Armies. The promotion of the permanent Royal Engineer officers has, however, been considerably accelerated since the outbreak of the War, and measures are being elaborated which will have the effect of giving promotion to the officers to whom the hon. Gentleman particularly alludes.

    AIRCRAFT CLOTH (EXAMINERS).
    Colonel RUTHERFORDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that three young men between twenty-five and thirty years of age, all of Blackburn, have been appointed to deal with the examination of cloth for aircraft, in preference to men above military age and of larger experience; what are their remuneration and allowances; have they, without any previous experience in the Navy or aircraft, been appointed sub-

    491
    lieutenants in the Volunteer Naval Reserve (Aircraft Section) to enable them to carry out their duties; and, seeing that these appointments have given rise to adverse comment, whether he will, to prevent recruiting amongst the workpeople and others being hindered, take steps to ensure such appointments not being made in the future?
    Dr. MACNAMARA: Three young men, all under the age of thirty, have been granted commissions in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, one as a lieutenant and two as sub-lieutenants, their duties being the inspection of fabric for aircraft. These gentlemen have been selected on the recommendations of the highest authorities on this subject, and have purposely been chosen of this age so that they can be trained in the practical side of air work, in order that they may fully grasp the requirements of the service, and it will be part of their duty to take part in actual flying. It is not considered that men of over military age are suitable for work in the air in order to test material, fittings, and so on. Remuneration and allowances are in accordance with rank. As regards the final part of the question, I feel convinced that, after the statement that it is not only part of these young men's duty to exercise their skill and knowledge in the selection and examination of material for aircraft, but also to go into the air to see how such material bears the strain of actual use, such adverse comment as may already have been made will at once be recognised by its authors as having arisen as a result of misconception.

    ARMY CASUALTIES (MENTAL STRAIN).
    Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War the names of the clearing houses to which soldiers of the rank and file when disabled by nerve strain are sent on arrival from the front, and the names of the military hospitals specially adapted for the treatment of un-certifiable cases of mental strain; how many of these border-line cases are at present in each one of these institutions, indicating at the same time for what purpose the institution was used previous to being commandeered; and in how many instances these uncertifiable cases have been put in charge of medical officers now
    492
    gazetted officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps who, up to the time when the institutions were commandeered, belonged to the asylum service and who still retain that status in addition to their military status?
    Mr. TENNANT: The clearing houses are the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, and the 4th London (T.F.) General Hospital, Denmark Hill. These cases are sent to various military hospitals throughout the country and special neurological sections have been established in connection with the twenty-three (T.F.) General Hospitals so as to bring the patients under the observation of the eminent neurologists at these centres. It is not possible with any degree of accuracy to give the numbers of what my hon. Friend calls "border-line cases." The Red Cross Military Hospital, Maghull, and the Springfield War Hospital were taken over as military hospitals through the Board of Control, and the superintendents of these institutions were appointed to the charge of the military hospitals when they were taken over. For the time they are purely military medical officers.
    Mr. RENDALL: Will the right hon. Gentleman give me now, or in a short time, the number of soldiers in these hospitals?
    Mr. TENNANT: I think I can agree to do that.
    Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the new military hospital shortly to be opened at Napsbury has been known for years as a county lunatic asylum; whether its lunacy staff of medical officers are to be retained to take charge of nerve-shattered soldiers without any appeal or judicial investigation; and whether he will consider the possibility, as an alternative, of treating transiently acute cases of nerve shock in the same way as delirious cases are treated on medical lines in ordinary hospitals, and so save both the injured soldiers and their families from the opprobium associated with having been treated in a lunatic asylum?
    Mr. TENNANT: The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative; but I am unaware what appeal or judicial investigation is contemplated by my hon. Friend: the cases of nerve shock to which the word "transient" may be applicable will be sent to military hospitals. I can assure my hon. Friend that

    493
    neither the desire nor the intention is lacking in my military medical advisers to save the soldiers and their families from the opprobium associated with having been treated in a lunatic asylum.
    Sir W. BYLES: Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to save them from opprobium by depriving them of the safeguard which the Lunacy Act gives them?
    Mr. TENNANT: I do not know that I quite appreciate that question.
    Sir W. BYLES: Are you going to exempt these hospitals from the operation of the Lunacy Act?
    Mr. TENNANT: I have explained the position more than once. At present it is that a soldier who is so unfortunate as to be deprived of his balance and is incurable, is certified not by the body that certifies cases of the civil population but by a board of military authority, and if it is discovered that he is incurable, of course he goes into an asylum.

    WOOLWICH ARSENAL.
    Mr. O'DOWDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that a young man, eligible in every way, was refused employment in Woolwich Arsenal because it was discovered that he was a few months short of the statutory age, twenty-one years; and, if so, whether this disqualification can be dispensed with?
    The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster): I am unable to trace the particular case from the information afforded by the hon. Member. No such qualification is insisted on for employment in the Arsenal. It has been found that men under twenty-one are not, as a rule, sufficiently experienced to be employed as fully-qualified mechanics, although they might be engaged as improvers.

    NAVAL AND MILITARY SERVICES (PENSIONS AND GRANTS).
    Mr. O'DOWDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and other societies in Ireland who have joined the Army and have made the necessary allowance of 6d. per day off their salaries, in accordance with War Office regulations,
    494
    are being treated exceptionally in regard to the weekly allowances due to their dependants at home; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to have the matter set right as soon as possible?
    Mr. FORSTER: No instructions have been given for any exceptional treatment, and I am not aware of any.
    Mr. WINGasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, if a soldier, the son of a soldier on active service, makes an allotment to his sister over sixteen years of age, the sister can receive the Government allowance to an amount sanctioned by the local pension committee; and, if not, will he say why this is not allowed?
    Mr. FORSTER: A soldier's sister is eligible under the same conditions as other dependants?

    CANADIAN TROOPS (HONOURS).
    Mr. MACMASTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War when the list of honours and promotions in the Canadian Army, in recognition of their recent service and sacrifices in the Imperial cause, may be expected?
    Mr. TENNANT: I presume the hon. Gentleman refers to the further list of honours conferred on the occasion of His Majesty's birthday in recognition of meritorious service during the War, which was mentioned in the supplement of the "London Gazette," published on 3rd June. It would be improper for me to say what this list might or might not contain, but I may say that its issue will not be unduly deferred.

    BATTALION MEDICAL OFFICERS.
    Sir PHILIP MAGNUSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is any shortage of battalion medical officers in the Army; if so, what steps are being taken to remedy such shortage; and whether the Army Medical Department is conferring with the official representatives of the medical profession in this country with a view to the better organisation of the medical profession for war purposes?
    Mr. TENNANT: There is not at present any shortage of battalion medical officers, but more are still required in order that

    495
    the needs of the New Army and of the Territorial Force may be fully supplied. Considerable numbers are being engaged every week, and the Director-General of the Army Medical Service is receiving every support from the official representatives of the civil medical profession with whom, not only on this but also on other matters affecting the health and well-being of the troops, he is in constant and cordial relations.

    KING GEORGE'S HOSPITAL, STAMFORD STREET (MEDICAL OFFICERS).
    Sir P. MAGNUSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many medical officers are at present employed at King George's Hospital, Stamford Street; how many of these are of military age; what is the proportion of such officers to the number of patients and how that proportion compares with the proportion of medical officers to patients in the general medical hospitals; whether men above the age of 40 are eligible for appointments at King George's Hospital; and whether the staff of younger men might be reduced if they were assisted by medical men over 40 years of age working part time?
    Mr. TENNANT: The medical officers of this hospital were appointed by the Red Cross Society. I understand that there are twenty-five resident and that twenty-four are of military age, though I cannot say how many of these are in fact eligible for any service. There is one medical officer to sixty-six beds, which is a somewhat more favourable proportion than in other hospitals. An arrangement of part-time service would not be convenient, I believe, but I sympathise with the object the hon. Gentleman has in view and enquiries will be made to see whether any of the junior medical officers who are eligible could be released for general medical service with the Army.

    LETTERS FOR TROOPS.
    Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether letters addressed to soldiers serving with the A Company, 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers, 87th Brigade, 29th Division, in the British Expeditionary Force, care of General Post Office,
    496
    London, and when wounded to the Military Base Hospital, Alexandria, have not been delivered; if he is aware that in one case ten letters sent at different times by relatives to one soldier, and addressed as above, are all undelivered; and whether this condition of things continues and what the explanation is?
    Mr. TENNANT: If letters intended for the unit mentioned have been inscribed "British Expeditionary Force," the instructions issued have not been followed, and this would account for any failure to deliver. I will send my hon. Friend a few copies of the instructions. As regards correspondence with the forces in the Mediterranean, I am afraid my hon. Friend must not expect the same rapidity and certainty of delivery as now obtains, I believe in the case of correspondence for the Expeditionary Force in France, but I can assure him that everything possible will be done by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General and by the military authorities to give as good a service as the circumstances permit.

    RECRUITING.

      COAL-MINING DISTRICTS.
      Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct the Recruiting Committee to prevent further recruiting in coal-mining districts; whether numbers of coal miners have enlisted, and how it is proposed to fill their places?
      Mr. TENNANT: There has been no representation either from the Home Office or the Board of Trade or from any responsible body connected with the coalmining industry that would lead the Army Council to suppose that all further recruiting in coal-mining districts generally should now cease. The hon. Gentleman will therefore pardon me if I hesitate to give such instructions merely as a consequence of the suggestion which has come from him. I am, of course, aware that the coal miners have responded splendidly to the appeals for men which have been made, and I am also aware of the importance of the coal-mining industry at the present time. I may add that the coal mines in South Wales which supply the Navy have been for some time closed to recruiting.
      Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: Will the right hon. Gentleman state the date when

      497
      these mines in South Wales were closed for recruiting?
      Mr. TENNANT: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to give me notice of that question.
      Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE: Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it has a very important bearing upon my question?
      Mr. TENNANT: My answer is that the coal mines in South Wales which have supplied the Navy have been closed for some time. The hon. Gentleman must form his own estimate of what that means.

      EXEMPTION OF MUNITIONS FACTORIES.
      Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed by Order in Council, or otherwise, to confer power on the Minister of Munitions, unfettered by the War Office, to exempt from recruiting factories engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war, to issue war badges to the men of recruitable age employed in such factories, and to issue discharges from the Army to skilled mechanical and electrical engineering craftsmen who desire to return to civil employment as makers of munitions of war?
      The PRIME MINISTER: The matters referred to in the question are clearly subjects for co-operation between the Ministry of Munitions and the War Office. Their importance is fully recognised, and active steps are already being taken in the matter.

      RESERVATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
      Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister whether, considering the anxiety prevailing on the subject of employment, which militates against recruiting, he will take steps to secure a public assurance that all men enlisting for general service will be reinstated in their former positions on the conclusion of the War?
      The PRIME MINISTER: The Government and a large number of employers have already given this assurance to men enlisting with leave from their service. I hope that this will be done wherever possible, but I am not in a position to give an assurance that would be binding in all cases.
      Colonel YATE: Will the right hon. Gentleman publish that reply, so that all employers in the country may have that encouragement?

    GERMAN POISONOUS GASES.

      SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION.
      Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Dr. Haldane on May 3rd asked the War Office to issue a permit to enable his assistant, Mr. Winmill, to travel to France with him for the purpose of investigating the use of poisonous gases used by the Germans; and whether Mr. Winmill was kept waiting three days in London for the necessary passports to enable him to reach General Headquarters, notwithstanding that Mr. Winmill made repeated applications personally, by telegram and by telephone to the War Office for his passports?
      Mr. TENNANT: There is no knowledge at the War Office of the repeated applications personally, by telegram and by telephone, for passports on the part of Mr. Winmill. Special military passes for Dr. Haldane and Professor Baker were asked for and were granted on April 26th, and if Dr. Haldane had asked for a similar arrangement to be made for Mr. Winmill it could no doubt have been approved. No complaint in the sense of my hon. Friend's question has been received from Dr. Haldane or Mr. Winmill. If my hon. Friend refers to passports only, his question is one for the Foreign Office.
      Sir A. MARKHAM: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Dr. Haldane made a representation to himself at the War Office on 3rd May, and that Mr. Winmill, with all the mechanical apparatus, could not go over until Dr. Haldane sent another telegram and until representations were sent from the General Headquarters in France?
      Mr. TENNANT: No complaint has been received from either Dr. Haldane or Mr. Winmill. That being so, I am afraid my hon. Friend's information is not quite accurate.
      Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, seeing that Dr. Haldane was requested by the Government to report on the poisonous gases used by the Germans, he is aware that Dr. Haldane at once instructed Mr. S. F. Winmill, B.A., B.Sc, chief chemist of the Doncaster Coal Owners' Scientific Research Committee, to make tests of the best forms of respirators for the use of the troops, and that Dr. Haldane stated that the form of respirator proposed to be issued by

      499
      the War Office was of no value whatever; whether, notwithstanding this, Lord Kitchener made an appeal to the women of the country to make these respirators; whether many men at Hill 60 lost their lives at Hill 60 when using this respirator; whether the Director-General of Medical Services was consulted and approved this pattern of respirator; (2) whether, seeing that Mr. Winmill has presented a report to the Doncaster Coal Owners' Scientific Research Committee that men can, if they take certain precautions, evade poison gases without even using respirators, he will say whether Dr. Haldane and Mr. Winmill have been asked by the War Office to make any report on the question; whether, if no such report has been asked for, he will at once ask Dr. Haldane to make a brief report stating the precautions which will prevent loss of life even though no respirator is used or available; will he see that this report is at once sent to General Sir John French; and (3) whether Dr. Haldane is recognised in all countries as one of the greatest living physiologists, his books being the recognised standard authority; whether Dr. Haldane has for years past given his services to the Home Office to assist in obtaining a reliable breathing apparatus for use in mines; whether Dr. Haldane has made innumerable tests of all types of breathing apparatus; and whether the War Office have now consulted a gentleman who appears on music-hall stages as to the best type of respirators for the use of the troops?
      Mr. TENNANT: The eminence of Dr. Haldane as an authority is, of course, well known, and he has advised the War Office on the matter in question, and continues to advise. The type of respirator used at the outset was that approved by the Admiralty, and it was adopted with the approval of the Director-General of the Army Medical Services until a more suitable type could be devised for the special circumstances. I have on previous occasions explained the circumstances in which an appeal was made to the public. I have no knowledge of the report made by Mr. Winmill, but I may inform my hon. Friend, as he is not already aware of the fact, that Dr. Haldane has already indicated certain protective measures that may be taken by troops, if they happen to be without one of the authorised respirators, and the necessary instructions have been given by
      500
      the military authorities in France. The means of protection now in use are reported on most favourably by the authorities in France. Recourse has been had, in studying these problems, to all the best brains in the country, but I am not aware that any music-hall artist has been consulted, as stated in Question 43.
      Sir A. MARKHAM: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the circular issued from General Headquarters, dated 4th June, no mention whatever is made of these other precautions which Dr. Haldane thought it desirable should be taken?
      Mr. TENNANT: I was not aware of that. Possibly the device suggested by Dr. Haldane was settled after that date, but I am not quite certain of that.

    COAL MINES (EIGHT HOURS) ACT.
    Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether the Government is considering the need for the suspension of the Eight Hours Act, in view of the bearing of the question of coal production upon the present crisis?
    Sir J. SIMON: The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Departmental Committee on conditions prevailing in the coal-mining industry due to the War, which was presented to Parliament the other day, and especially to paragraph 6 of the Summary of Conclusions. Action under this recommendation is being considered.

    OXFORD UNIVERSITY (RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS).
    Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether the late Cecil Rhodes founded fifteen scholarships at Oxford for students from Germany held on the appointment of the German Kaiser, and that the annual income for this purpose is £3,750 a year; and whether, in view of the present financial difficulties of Oxford University, he will introduce emergency legislation whereby the income of this endowment may be enjoyed by the university during the period of the War?
    The PRIME MINISTER: I am in communication on this subject with the parties interested.

    VICEROY OF INDIA.

      STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER.
      Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister when Lord Hardinge's appointment as Viceroy of India terminates?
      The PRIME MINISTER: Under normal circumstances Lord Hardinge of Penshurst's term of office as Viceroy and Governor-General of India would have terminated in November next, but His Majesty's Government, recognising the great services which Lord Hardinge has rendered to India, and desiring to retain the advantage of his experience during the coming winter, have requested him to remain till the end of March next. Lord Hardinge has readily consented to comply with our wishes, and the King has been pleased to approve the arrangement.
      I am glad of the opportunity to express my sense of the public spirit which, in spite of the great strain of his labours, and in face of heavy private sorrows, has led Lord Hardinge to place his services unreservedly at our disposal.
      Sir J. D. REES: Is it not the case that every Viceroy is appointed until the appointment of his successor, and that there is no five years term?
      The PRIME MINISTER: That does not arise out of the question.

    NOVEL AGENCIES OF WAR.
    Mr. E. JONESasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to invite Lord Haldane to preside over a Special Commission, formed for the purpose of concentrating to the fullest extent the scientific intellect of the country upon research, invention, and discovery related to the materials, agencies, and processes that might be employed to enable us to win a complete triumph for our arms, in spite of the inhuman but nevertheless highly scientific, ingenious, varied, and continuously novel agencies of war used by the enemy?
    The PRIME MINISTER: The existing machinery for this purpose appears adequate. The creation of an additional body would not, I think, prove to be of advantage.

    PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (POSTPONEMENT).
    Mr. LOUGHasked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the short time that remains before the preparation of the annual register of voters, he can now say if the usual registration courts will sit this year; and, if not, what provision the Government will make with regard to this matter and the postponement of elections?
    The PRIME MINISTER: A statement will shortly be made on this subject.
    Mr. LOUGH: Will my right hon. Friend remember that 5th July is the date fixed?
    The PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I will remember that.

    DAMAGE BY AIR RAIDS.

      STATE INSURANCE SCHEME.
      Mr. FELLasked if persons suffering damage to their premises from aerial raids will recover the whole of such damage from the Government and also be able to recover the damages from insurance companies if they are insured; and, if not, and if the insurers are to be relieved from payment of losses, will the premiums be repayable, less say 5 per cent. for expenses?
      The PRIME MINISTER: Any sums received from insurance companies by persons suffering damage to their premises from aerial raids are deducted in payment of the relief assessed by Lord Parmoor's Committee. It is not intended to repay the premiums of insurers. The possibility of a Government scheme of insurance is under consideration.
      Mr. FELL: When is this likely to be carried through, because at present there are grave difficulties in the way of borrowing on bills of lading on goods until they are insured, and if they are insured by the Government, why should they pay a premium?
      The PRIME MINISTER: There will be no avoidable delay.
      Commander BELLAIRSasked what Members of the Government will accept responsibility for the organisation of concerted

      503
      action of fire brigade and volunteer effort in the London police area; and whether there will be an opportunity for an early discussion of this matter in view of the special demands and changed circumstances of the War?
      The PRIME MINISTER: The responsibility for protection against fire rests, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, with the local authorities and, in the case of the County of London, with the London County Council. The organisation of concerted action between the fire brigades and volunteer assistance is a matter for the council, who, I am sure, will be able to obtain volunteers for all the assistance they ask for. I do not think that Parliamentary discussion is called for at the present time.
      Commander BELLAIRS: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the county council desires to shelve the responsibility and hand it over to a Department of the Government?
      The PRIME MINISTER: I am not quite aware if that is so, or what reason the county council have for wishing to abdicate an authority which the law imposes upon them.

    MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD (PERSONAL EXPLANATION).
    Mr. SALTERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that copies of an article by the hon. Member for Leicester, reprinted from the "Labour Leader," suggesting that the War is unnecessary and unjust, are being systematically and anonymously sent to persons who have lost a son, killed in action, immediately after their bereavement, and whether the War Office is taking any steps to discover and expose the persons guilty of this inhuman conduct?
    Mr. TENNANT: This matter has already been receiving attention, but I cannot make any statement at present. The hon. Member for Leicester has informed me that the action mentioned in the question has not been taken by any organisation with which he has been or is associated, and that it has neither his sanction nor his sympathy.
    Mr. SALTER: Will the right hon. Gentleman say that he will invite the assistance
    504
    of the Home Office and of the Post Office to endeavour to detect the persons guilty of this abominable procedure?
    Mr. TENNANT: Yes, I will invite any agency which I think is capable of ascertaining who it is.
    Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD: I am very reluctant to ask the House to receive an explanation from me in this matter, but the suggestion made in the question just put that I am either directly or indirectly responsible for sending the pamphlet to add pain to people bereaved by the War is so offensive to me that I must ask leave to make a statement. The leaflet which I wrote, and to which reference has been made, criticised the diplomacy which led up to the War. The ordinary circulation of such views, in my opinion, cannot be objected to. It is part of the critical examination of the facts which is essential to the welfare of the State. Hon. Members will profoundly disagree with what I have said, but that does not mean that the publication was wrong. The suggestion that this leaflet, either with my knowledge or concurrence, has been used specifically and systematically for the purpose of distracting the minds of people whose relatives have fallen in the War is absolutely unjustifiable. The accusation was made first of all by a newspaper which at the same time misrepresented what I wrote. My attention was drawn to the attack in that newspaper, and I wrote immediately, on 1st June, a letter which was published on 4th June in the newspaper, in which I used these words:—
    "If there is any attempt being made to select people who have suffered, this action is not only mean but brutal, and neither I nor any organisation with which I have anything to do is responsible for such conduct."
    I have made further inquiry, and can repeat here to the House, without qualification or reserve of any kind whatever, that if there were such a plan in operation, it has neither the support nor the sympathy of any organisation with which I am associated. It must be plain to everyone that whoever devised this scheme could have used equally well for his purpose almost any other criticism reflecting upon the late Government's policy and conduct of the War, and it must be equally apparent to every hon. person that whoever continues to circulate these libels regarding myself is prompted, not by a care for the decencies of life, but by motives of a diametrically opposite kind.

  Safety of Life at Sea.
  Mr. WINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any, and, if so, what consideration has been given by the Board of Trade to arrangements for existing ships with a view to improvements providing increased safety, as suggested in Article 16 of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea; whether any regulations have been made or are contemplated to give effect to the provisions of the convention in that behalf; and whether in view of the fact that all new ships, that is, those ships the keel of which is laid after 1st July, 1915, are by the terms of the convention to be constructed to admit of the application of the provisions of the convention, the Board of Trade propose to promulgate at an early date the necessary regulations and take all necessary steps to give effect to the convention?
  Mr. RUNCIMAN: As regards existing ships, the Board of Trade are adopting the recommendations contained in Chapter X. of the Report of the Bulkheads Committee, and the necessary regulations will be issued as soon as possible. Regulations and instructions will shortly be issued with regard to new ships. It will not be possible owing to the War to enforce the full requirements of the Convention at the time proposed by the International Conference, but every effort will be made to secure that new passenger ships shall, wherever it is at all practicable to do so, comply fully with the standard laid down by the Convention.
  Mr. WINGasked what steps, if any, have been taken to bring into operation the recommendations contained in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Boats and Davits, dated 15th May, 1913; whether any regulations have been made or are contemplated thereunder; and whether any inventions or suggestions have been submitted to the Board of Trade since the issue of the Report which the Board considers can be adopted to effectually carry out all or any of the recommendations contained in the Report?
  Mr. RUNCIMAN: Practically the whole of the recommendations of the Boats and Davits Committee have been given effect to in the statutory Life-saving Appliances Rules. No difficulty is experienced in practice in effectively carrying out these recommendations.
  Mr. WING: The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the latter part of my question: whether any inventions or suggestions have been submitted to the Board of Trade?
  Mr. RUNCIMAN: I can only say that there is scarcely a week passes without some inventions being submitted to the Board of Trade. The trouble is to find out which of these is of real value.

  House Refuse.
  Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has issued his proposed circular regarding the accumulation of refuse in the neighbourhood of dwellings; and whether it is to be addressed to rural districts, as well as to county borough and urban district councils?
  Mr. LONG: The circular referred to was issued last month to urban authorities. I am considering the issue of another circular to all sanitary authorities urging special precautions for the prevention of disease during the summer months.
  Sir J. D. REES: Will the right hon. Gentleman consider if he can urge upon the local authorities that they should compel local owners to fence land which is in immediate proximity to crowded areas?
  Mr. LONG: I have no reason to believe that there is any great difficulty in connection with the subject which the hon. Gentleman mentions. I will consider it, but it is rather a large order.
  Sir J. D. REES: There is considerable difficulty inasmuch as these local owners cannot be induced to fence these lands.

  Sight Tests.
  Mr. LYNCHasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the results of the sight tests for the year 1914; and whether the wool test has been abolished and the defects in the lantern remedied?
  Mr. RUNCIMAN: A Return will be published shortly which will contain statistics with regard to the sight tests in 1914. The wool test will be dispensed with as from January 1st next. I do not think that any alterations in the lantern are called for.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.

  FINANCE BILL.
  Order for Second Reading read.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—[Mr. McKenna.]
  Question put, and agreed to.
  Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House for to-morrow (Tuesday).
  The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

  PUBLIC PETITIONS.
  Ordered, That a Select Committee be appointed, to whom shall be referred all Petitions presented to the House, with the exception of such as relate to Private Bills; and that such Committee do classify and prepare abstracts of the same, in such form and manner as shall appear to them best suited to convey to the House, all requisite information respecting their contents, and do report the same from time to time to the House; and that the Reports of the Committee do set forth, in respect of each Petition, the number of signatures which are accompanied by addresses, and which are written on sheets headed in every case by the prayer of the Petition, provided that on every separate sheet after the first the prayer may be reproduced in print or by other mechanical process; that such Committee have power to direct the printing in extenso of such Petitions, or of such parts of Petitions, as shall appear to require it; and that such Committee have power to report their opinion and observations thereupon to the House.
  Committee accordingly nominated of Lord Charles Beresford, Sir William Bull, Mr. Burt, Mr. Dalrymple, Mr. Charles Duncan, Mr. Hackett, Mr. Leicester Harmsworth, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Hadyn Jones, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Ronald McNeill, Colonel Pryce-Jones, Mr. Reddy, and Mr. Turton.
  Ordered, That three be the quorum.—[Mr. Gulland.]

  WAR EXPENDITURE AND TAXATION.
  Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 3rd February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."
  Sir JOSEPH WALTON: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not, I am sure, desire to deprive me of the opportunity of making one or two suggestions in regard to the Finance Bill, and certainly when he came to the Table with his dispatch box, full of the most valuable information, I naturally assumed that it was his intention to move the Second Reading of the Finance Bill. There can be no question that in every quarter of the House and among every section of the people of this country there is a willingness to bear to the very full the financial burden which must necessarily arise from the enormous expenditure that we have to face in connection with this terrible War, provided that there is something like equality of sacrifice.
  Sir GODFREY BARING: On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is the hon. Gentleman entitled, on the Motion for the Adjournment, to discuss the Finance Bill?
  Mr. SPEAKER: I do not think the hon. Gentleman is entitled to make the speech which he ought to have made on the Motion for the Second Reading. I think he must reserve that for the Third Reading. He is entitled to explain why he did not rise.
  Sir J. WALTON: I am afraid, Mr. Speaker, that it is useless attempting to proceed if I am not allowed to make the suggestions in regard to the Finance Bill which I had intended.
  Mr. BOOTH: May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make a statement to the House on the Third Reading?
  The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKENNA): I anticipated that my hon. Friend (Sir J. Walton), who had written to me upon the subject, intended to open the discussion on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill. A number of my hon. Friends had asked me whether I intended to make a speech first, and in every case I replied in the negative; but I had mentioned to you, Mr. Speaker, that my hon. Friend (Sir J. Walton) intended to speak upon the Bill. No one was more surprised that I was

  517
  when he did not rise, and the Second Reading was taken without any debate. Perhaps I may be allowed to say this: Had there been an opportunity for me to speak I should not have thought the occasion appropriate to enter into the larger financial questions which are usually discussed upon the Finance Bill. The Finance Bill for this year only provides approximately for one-quarter of the expenditure of the year. There must be, at no very distant date, another occasion when by other efforts means must be taken for providing funds for paying for the War. I mean, of course, by some form or other of borrowing. Then, of course, we shall have a full survey of the whole expenditure and revenue of the year before us, and that, I think, would be a more appropriate occasion for dealing with the general finance of the country than the Second Reading of a Bill like this, which, as anyone who has read the Bill will see, is quite of a formal and technical kind. I think, therefore, that my hon. Friend will yet have, at no very distant date, a better opportunity than this of raising the whole question of the expenditure on the War.
  Mr. GODFREY COLLINS: May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in the revised Finance Bill foreshadowed by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer when he made his annual statement earlier in the year? As some hon. Members pointed out at that time, the taxation of to-day is insufficient to pay even the interest on the debt created by the War, and in view of the artificial state of prosperity caused by the large sums poured out by the Government on Government contracts many of us feel that that prosperity should be taxed by the Government immediately. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer would give us some idea as to when the Finance Bill, No. 3, will be introduced it would satisfy our minds on the subject. Perhaps I might further ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is quite happy regarding the general financial situation? In times of peace the Treasury dominates the policy of the War Office. So far as I can see to-day the War Office is dominating the policy of the Treasury. Naturally that position is quite wrong, because ultimately the Treasury have to meet the bills drawn by the War Office. We are to-day raising several millions of men. We are to-day financing our Allies to the extent of several millions of pounds. Can this
  518
  continue much further without endangering our financial position? I wish to put that point to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to ask him if he will endeavour to bring pressure to bear upon the War Office to stop recruiting, say, in the coal areas. As we learned, by question and answer, to-day the War Office is still taking from the coalfield miners who are wealth producers, and this at a time of grave financial difficulty. I desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer these two questions, and I trust that we may get some answer.
  Mr. DAVID MASON: I desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Committee stage of the Finance Bill will be taken, and I shall be glad to know whether, on that occasion, he will be able to afford us an opportunity for discussion?
  Mr. McKENNA: It is only with the leave of the House that I can reply to the questions that have been put. As my hon. Friend (Mr. Mason) knows, the time limit of the Committee stage is now settled by Statute, and I can only say that within that time limit the Committee stage will be taken. In reference to the questions of my hon. Friend (Mr. Collins), all the topics which he has mentioned would, I think, be more appropriate for discussion when we consider the means of raising Revenue outside this Bill. It is clear, as he says, that the Revenue raised under this Bill is quite inadequate to meet our expenditure, and we shall have to take other means of a more unusual kind to meet that expenditure. When we get to the discussion of those means all the topics which he has raised ought, I think, to be brought under the consideration and careful review of this House. He is undoubtedly right when he says that we are undertaking financial responsibilities which are almost beyond our powers to-day, but the occasion is not now, though it must be quite shortly, and, though I would not wish to limit myself to a precise date, the opportunity for full discussion cannot now be long deferred.
  Mr. LYNCH: On a point of Order. Might I ask for some guidance? With this Bill before us have we the opportunity of discussing the use to which this money will be put, and the question whether we have had an adequate return for the money already expended on purposes such as this is meant to supply? That is to say, shall we have an opportunity of debating, in a word, the general conduct of the War?
  Mr. SPEAKER: This Bill is a Finance Bill and relates to the levy of taxation, and not to its expenditure. The discussion must be confined to the best method of raising the money required, and the method of spending it will come up on the Estimates.
  Mr. J. M. HENDERSON: My right hon. Friend knows that there has been a great deal of discussion upon Section 2 of the Act of 1912, and in reference to the question of amendment by this Bill I want some information as to when we shall have an opportunity of bringing the matter forward, so that it may not be pushed through without discussion.
  Mr. McKENNA: If my Hon. Friend will kindly put his views before us on the subject they will certainly be carefully considered before we get into the Committee stage. Of course, this is a Committee point.
  Mr. HENDERSON: I am quite well aware of that.
  Sir J. D. REES: Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the question under Clause 2 about the decision of the Excise Officers as to the age of whisky will be taken?
  Mr. McKENNA: Ultimately.
  Sir J. D. REES: Not now?
  Mr. McKENNA: No.
  Sir F. BANBURY: Might I ask whether a discussion on the question raised by the hon. Member below the Gangway (Mr. Lynch) as to the method of expending the money would be in order on the Vote of Credit which I understand is going to be taken to-morrow? I should think that any discussion of that sort would be in order on the Vote of Credit. There is only one question as to which I would like to give notice to the right hon. Gentleman—that I desire to move an Amendment on the Committee stage. The Amendment is intended to prevent the waste of time which is incurred by the valuation officers under the Land Valuation Clauses. Only to-day a gentleman called at my house. I gave him every possible facility and he spent his time seeing what the value of my house was six years ago. I do not know how you are going to make out what was the value of my house in 1909. It was very different then from what it is now. It seems to me to be a very
  520
  great waste of the time and the services of a very eminent and very capable gentleman, and I should have thought that after the War it would be no harder to find out what the value of my house was in 1909 than it is at the present moment. In those circumstances I intend to suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that this matter should be postponed. I do not want to introduce any controversial matter and, therefore, I shall limit my Amendment to the postponement, and shall not suggest the abolition of the Land Clauses, which might possibly be considered to be a violation of the truce and the introduction of controversial matters. I shall, therefore, endeavour to secure the passing of an Amendment which will postpone the valuation until after the War is finished, so that the services of these eminent gentlemen may be devoted either to the making of shells or to some other service which will be more useful to the country than going round trying to find out what was the value of houses six years ago, a thing which is useful neither to the country nor to anybody else.
  Mr. JAMES MASON: I had intended to put forward a very modest proposal as to the method of the payment of Death Duties, but like others I was rather taken by surprise at the shortness of the Debate on this Bill. My only reason for rising now is to say that I approached the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor, the Minister of Munitions, on that subject, and I thought that the right hon. Gentleman might care to know beforehand the proposal which I must now endeavour to formulate in the shape of an Amendment on the Committee stage.
  Mr. OUTHWAITE: I hope that tomorrow the right hon. Gentleman will deal with the Amendment which the hon. Baronet the Member for the City of Londone said he was going to move, and will be able to give us full information as to the position with regard to land valuation in this country. We have had various statements made at various times, and it has been stated that the valuation was nearing completion, and I would like to know exactly how the matter now stands, especially in view of the fact that a new source of revenue has to be opened up.
  Question put, and agreed to.
  Adjourned accordingly at One minute before Four o'clock.