Lords Sitting of 23 October 1906

VISCOUNT MOLESWORTH.
Report made from the Lord Chancellor that the right of George Bagot, Viscount Molesworth and Baron Phillipstown, in the Peerage of Ireland, to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland has boon established to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
The Duke of Rutland sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.
Several Lords took the Oath.
The Lord Masham sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.
Archibald Lord Bishop of Exeter was (in the usual manner) introduced.

PETITIONS.

  EDUCATION (ENGLAND AND WALES) BILL.
  Petitions against, of trustees of Church of England schools in the diocese of Peterborough (7); teachers in schools in the diocese of Peterborough; parishioners of St. George's, Leicester; parishioners of St. Mary's, Leicester; trustees of Church of England schools at Narborough; Mowsley; inhabitants of Coalville; Tithmarsh; Caterham; Ashwell; parish of Ayston; Whitwell; Whissendene; Glooston; Stretton; Oakham; Pickworth; parish of Brooke; North Lutfenham; Glaston; Empyngham; Preston; St. Cuthbert's, Durham; Edith, Weston; Greetham; Burley: Egerton; St. George's, Wigan; Market Overton; Essendine; Moreott; Seaton; Pilton; Cottesmore; Barrow; Egleton; Little Casterton and Tolethorpe; Clipsham; Tinwell; Langham; Bramston; Ridlington; Teigh; Hambleton; Wardley; Uppingham; Stoke-Dory; Manton; Exton; Byhall; Wing, Rutlandshire;

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  Belton; Normanton; Bisbrooke; St. Bartholomew's, Bethnal Green; St. Helens, Bishopsgate, E.C.; All Saints, Haggerston; Bolney; Bardwell, Suffolk; Barrow-on-Soar (3); and Bentley; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.

EDUCATION.
Petitions in favour of denominational religious instruction in schools; of inhabitants of the parishes of Worthing and District; Leicester; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS (RECESS).
The LORD CHANCELLOR The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the following Papers, having been commanded to be presented to this House by His Majesty, had been so presented on the following dates by delivery to the Clerk of the Parliaments, pursuant to Standing Order No. CXI., viz.:

COLONIES I. (ANNUAL).
No. 489. Seychelles (Report for 1905). (August 8.)
No. 490. Falkland Islands (Report for 1905). (August 10.)
No. 491. Gambia (Report for 1905). (August 16.)
No. 492. Jamaica (Report for 1904–1905). (August 22.)
No. 493. Northern Territories of the Gold Coast (Report for 1905). (August 23)
No. 494. Ceylon (Report for 1905). August 27.)
No. 495. Turks and Caicos Islands (Report for 1905). (September 18.)
No. 496. Bahamas (Report for 1905–1906). (September 19.)
No. 497. Barbados (Report for 1905–1906). (September 21.)
No. 498. Malta (Report for 1905–1906). (October 2.)
No. 499. British Central Africa Protectorate (Report for 1905–1906). (October 6.)
No 500. Surveys and Explorations of British Africa (Annual Report of the
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Colonial Survey Committee. First Year: to August, 1906). (October 9.)
No. 501. Grenada (Report for 1905). (October 12.)
No. 502. Straits Settlements (Report for 1905). (October 12.)
No. 503. Gibraltar (Report for 1905). (October 15.)
No. 504. Trinidad and Tobago (Report for 1905–1906). (October 19.)

GENERAL.
II. Statement showing the total amount contributed by the colonies, dependencies, and protectorates to the upkeep of the Imperial Institute from the date of its formation to 31st March, 1906. (August 14.)

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
I. General Report to the Board of Trade upon the accidents that have occurred on the railways of the United Kingdom during the year 1905. (August 9.)
II. Returns 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 March, 1906, in pursuance of the Regulation of Railways Act (1871), together with Reports of the inspecting officers, assistant inspecting officers, and sub-inspectors of the Railway Department to the Board of Trade upon certain accidents which were inquired into. (September 4.)
China, No. I. (1906).—Correspondence relating to the Decree issued by the Chinese Government on 9th May, 1906, respecting the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. (August 10.)

TRADE REPORTS—I. ANNUAL SERIES.
No. 3685. Ecuador. (August 10.)
No. 3686. Guatemala.
No. 3687. China (Kiungchow). (August 14.)
No. 3688. Russia (Riga.)
No. 3689. Argentine Republic (Finances for 1905 and part of 1906).
No. 3690. China (Ningpo).
No. 3691. China (Wenchow).
No. 3692. China (Pakhoi).
No. 3693. Mexico (Mexican Budget for 1906–1907). (August 16.)
No. 3694. Germany (Dantzig).
No. 3695. Siam (Chiengmai).
No. 3696. Austria-Hungary. (August 17.)
No. 3697. Morocco (Trade of the Consular District of Dar-al-Baida for 1905). (August 22.)
No. 3698. Chile (Trade for 1905).
No. 3699. Turkey (Trade of Damascus for 1905). (August 23.)
No. 3700. Japan (Trade of Nagasaki for 1905).
No. 3701. China (Trade of Shasi for 1905. (August 25.)
No. 3702. Persia (Report for 1905 on the Trade of Bunder Abbas and Lingah). (August 28.)
No. 3703. Italy (Report for 1905 on the Trade of Leghorn).
No. 3704. Portugal (Trade of Angola for 1905).
No. 3705. Turkey (Trade of Crete for 1905). (August 29.)
No. 3706. Japan (Trade of Consular District of Tainan (South Formosa) for 1905). (September 1.)
No. 3707. France (Trade of French Indo-China.)
No. 3708. China (Trade of Changsha). (September 6.)
No. 3709. Japan (Yokohama).
No. 3710. China (Foochow).
No. 3711. China (Mengtzu).
No. 3712. France (Algeria). (September 8.)
No. 3713. Brazil (Trade for 1905).
No. 2714. China (Trade of Kiukiang for 1905). (September 11.)
No. 3715. Borneo (Trade of British North Borneo for 1905).
No. 3716. Zanzibar (Trade of Pemba for 1905). (September 14.)
No. 3717. Siam (Trade of Bangkok for 1905). (September 19.)
No. 3718. Italy (Trade of Venice for 1905–1906). (September 21.)
No. 3719. Japan (Trade of Kobe for 1005). (September 22.)
No. 3720. Belgium (Trade of Belgium for 1905 and the first half of 1906). (September 26).
No. 3721. Chinde (Trade for 1905.) (October 6).
No. 3722. Turkey (Trade for the Consular District of Smyrna for 1905).
No. 3723. Germany (Trade and Agriculture of Bavaria for 1905 and part of 1906). (October 10).

II. MISCELLANEOUS SERIES.
No. 654. Cotton Culture in Corea. (September 11).

INDIA.
I. (Railways).—Administration Report on the railways in India, for the calendar year 1905, by the Railway Board (August 10).
II. (Sanitary Measures).—Report on sanitary measures in India in 1904–1905. Vol. XXXVIII. (September 5).
III. (Statistical Abstract).—Statistical abstract relating to British India from 1895–1896 to 1904–1905. Fortieth Number. (September 13).

AGRICULTURE STATISTICS (IRELAND).
I. Return of prices of crops, live stock, and other Irish agricultural products for the year 1905. (August 14).
II. Abstracts showing the acreage under crops and the number of live stock in each county and province of Ireland, 1905–1906. (August 28).
III. Agricultural statistics of Ireland, with detailed Report for the year 1905. (September 19).

REFORMATORY AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
I. (Funds Committee).—Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the provision of funds for reformatory and industrial schools.
Vol. I. Report and Appendices.
Vol. II. Minutes of Evidence. (August 16).
II. (Ireland).—Forty-fourth Report of the Inspector, for the year 1905. (August 23).
III. (Great Britain).—Forty-ninth Report, for the year 1905, of His Majesty's Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial

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Schools. Part II.—General Report and Appendices III. to XI. (September 17).

TREATY SERIES.
No. 10. (1906).—Agreement between the United Kingdom and Chile for the Exchange of Money Orders; signed at London, 30th July, 1906. (August 17).
No. 11. (1906).—Treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Nicaragua with regard to the Mosquito Territory; signed at Managua, 19th April, 1905. (Ratifications exchanged at London, 24th August, 1906).
No. 12. (1906).—Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Nicaragua; signed at Managua, 28th July, 1905. (Ratifications exchanged at London, 24th August, 1906).
No 13. (1906).—Convention between the United Kingdom and Japan respecting Commercial Relations between Canada and Japan signed at Tokio, 31st January, 1906. (Ratifications exchanged at Tokio, 12th July, 1906).
No. 14. (1906).—Convention between the United Kingdom and France respecting the delimitation of the Frontier between the British and French Possessions to the East of the Niger; signed at London, 29th May, 1906. (Ratifications exchanged in London, 29th August, 1906.) (September 13).

CANADA—WEST INDIES.
Agreements between the Canadian Government and Messrs. Pickford and Black for a steamship service between Canada and the West Indies. (August 21).
CROFTER COLONISATION.
Fifteenth Report of His Majesty's Commissioners appointed to carry out a scheme of colonisation in the Dominion of Canada of crofters and cottars from the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland. (August 24).
WEST INDIES.
Contract between the Crown Agents for the Colonies and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for Inter-Colonial steamship services between certain Colonies in the West Indies (August 25).
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION.
Statistics of proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, 1897 and 1900, and the Employers Liability Act, '1880, during the year 1905. (September 3).

IRISH LAND COMMISSION.
I. Report of the Estates Commissioners, for the year ended 31st March, 1906, and for the period from 1st November, 1903, to 31st March, 1906. (September 3).
II. Return of advances made under the Irish Land Act, 1903, during the month of March, 1906. (September 5).

INEBRIATE RETREATS (IRELAND).
Second Report (with appendices) of the inspector for Ireland, for the year 1905. (September 4).
EGYPT NO. 4 (1906).
Further paper respecting the attack on British officers at Denshawai (in continuation of Egypt No. 3 (1906). (September 5).
NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
Annual Report of the Commissioners, for the year 1905. (September 6).
CONGESTED DISTRICTS BOARD (IRELAND).
Report of the Board, for the year ended 31st March, 1906. (September 10).
PUBLIC RECORDS (IRELAND).
Thirty-eighth Report of the Deputy-Keeper of the Records, for the year 1905. (September 10).
QUEEN'S COLLEGE, GALWAY.
Annual Report of the President, for the year 1905–1906. (September 11).
LUNACY (IRELAND).
Fifty-fifth Report of the Inspectors of Lunatics in Ireland, for the year 1905. (September 11).

NORTH SEA FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS.
Report of the British Delegates attending the meeting of the International Council for the Explication of the Sea

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at Amsterdam in 1906, and reports relating thereto (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper [Cd. 2966], 1906). (September 12).

TRISTAN-DA-CUNHA.
Further correspondence relating to the Island of Tristan-da-Cunha (in continuation of [Cd. 1600], June, 1903). (September 13).

FACTORY AND WORKSHOP.
I. (Factory, & c, Railings and Sidings, & c.)—Report to the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, by Chester Jones, Esquire, on the draft regulations for locomotives and waggons on lines and sidings in or in connection with factories, workshops, &c.
II. (Manufacture of Cotton, Safeguards)—Report by H. S. Richmond, Esq., one of His Majesty's Superintending Inspectors of Factories, on safeguards for the prevention of accidents in the manufacture of cotton. (September 15).

PRISONS (ENGLAND AND WALES).
Report of the Commissioners of Prisons and the Directors of Convict Prisons, with appendices, for the year ended 31st March, 1906. (September 17).

MINES AND QUARRIES.
I. (Disaster at Courrières Mine, France.)—Report to the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, by H. Cunynghame, Esq., C.B., and W. N. Atkinson, Esq., on the mining disaster at Courrières, Pas de Calais, France, on 10th March, 1906. (September 18).
II. (General Report and Statistics for 1905: Part II. Labour).—General report and statistics relating to persons employed and accidents at mines and quarries in the United Kingdom, and to the enforcement of the Mines and Quaries Acts. (October 1.)
III. (General Report and Statistics for 1905: Part III. Output).—General Report and Statistics relating to the out put and value of the minerals raised in the United Kingdom, the amount and value of the metals produced, and the exports and imports of minerals. (October 10.)

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOUR (BOARD OF TRADE LABOUR DEPARTMENT).
Report on changes in rates of wages and hours of labour in the United Kingdom in 1905, with comparative statistics for 1896–1904. (September 18.)
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (INTELLIGENCE DIVISION).
Annual Report of proceedings under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875 to 1899; the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 to 1894; the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Acts, 1893; and the Board of Agriculture Act, 1889 (section 2, subsection 3), for the year 1905. (September 22.)
TRINITY COLLEGE, DUNLIN, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN (ROYAL COMMISSION).
First Report of the Commissioners; with Appendix (Statements and Returns.) (September 22.)
MALTA.
Despatch from the Secretary of State relative to the holding of Protestant Mission Services at the Theatre Royal, Malta (in continuation of [Cd. 3024]). (September 22.)

EXPLOSIVES.
I. (Fire at Explosives Factory at Tuckingmill, Cornwall).—Report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the circumstances attending the fire which occurred at the Explosives Factory at Tuckingmill, Cornwall, on 20th April, 1906. (September 25.)
II. (Explosion at Sedgwick, Westmorland).—Report to the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the circum stances attending an explosion which occurred at the factory of the Sedgwick Gunpowder Co, Ltd., at Sedgwick, Westmorland, on the 23rd June, 1906. (October 2.)

IRISH LAND COMMISSION.
I. (Proceedings).—Return for the months of March, April, May, and June, 1906. (September 28.)
II. (Proceedings).—Return for the month of July, 1906. (October 5.)
III. Return of advances made under the Irish Land Act, 1903, during the month of April, 1906. (October 15.)

POLICE (METROPOLIS).
Report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, for the year 1905. (October I.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I. List of Public Elementary Schools in England and Wales on 1st January, 1906. (October 3.)
II. Regulations relating to the Royal College of Science, with which is incorporated the Royal School of Mines and the Royal College of Art, and to museums under the Board of Education (from 1st August, 1906, to 31st July, 1907.) (October 13.)
III. Short list of books, pamphlets, and papers dealing with the subject of religious instruction in schools. (October 18.)

CANALS AND WATERWAYS (ROYAL COMMISSION.)
First Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report on the canals and on inland navigations of the United Kingdom; with minutes of evidence and appendices thereto, and indices. (October 3.)

NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND).
I. Appendix, Section I., to the Annual Report of the Commissioners, for the year 1905.
II. Appendix, Section III., to the Annual Report of the Commissioners, for the year 1905. (October 4.)

FISHERIES (IRELAND).
Report of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland on the sea and inland fisheries of Ireland, for 1905. Part I. General Report. (October 5.)
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
Reports on the Federated Malay States for 1905. (For Reports for 1904 see [Cd. 2777.], November, 1905). (October 5.)
Customs Tariffs of the United Kingdom from 1897–1898 to 1906–1907 (in continuation of [Cd. 8706], 1897). (October 9.)
Reports respecting Peterhead Harbour Works (in continuation of [Cd. 2792], (October 9.)
FISHERIES (SCOTLAND).
Twenty-fourth Annual Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland, being for the year 1905. Part III., Scientific Investigations. (October 9.)
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS (SCOTLAND).
Fiftieth detailed Annual Report of the Registrar-General for Scotland of marriages, births, and deaths in Scotland (abstracts of 1904). (October 9.)

POOR LAW REFORM COMMISSION (IRELAND).
I. Report of the Vice-Regal Commission on Poor Law Reform in Ireland.
II. Appendix to Report.
III. Minutes of Evidence. (October 13.)

FOREIGN IMPORT DUTIES.
Return of the rates of import duty levied in European countries, Egypt, the United States, Mexico, Japan, China, and Persia, upon the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom. (October 13.)
AUSTRALIA.
Address to the King on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland, and the reply thereto. (October 15.)
SECONDARY EDUCATION (SCOTLAND).
Report for the year 1906, by J. Struthers, Esq., C.B., LL.D. (October 16.)
POST OFFICE.
Agreement between the Post Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Post Office of Crete for the exchange of money orders. (October 17.)
RAILWAY SIGNALMEN (HOURS OF LABOUR).
Return in pursuance of Section 4 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1889, of instances in which eight-hour and ten-hour signalmen were on duty on the railways of the United Kingdom for more than their booked hours during the month of February, 1906. (October 17.)
ARMY.
Approximate estimate of expenditure under the Military Works Acts of 1897, 1899, 1901, and 1903, for 1906–1907. (October 18.)
CYPRUS.
Annual Report for 1905–1906. (October 19.)

ALIENS ACT, 1905.
Return of alien passengers brought to the United Kingdom from ports in Europe or within the Mediterranean Sea during the three months ended 30th September, 1906, together with the number of expulsion orders made during that period requiring aliens to leave the United Kingdom. (October 19.)
The same were ordered to lie on the Table.

RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.
  IMPERIAL INSTITUTE (INDIAN SECTION).
  Annual Report for the year 1905–1906.
LAND LAW (IRELAND) ACT, 1887. (EVICTION NOTICES.)
Return of the number of eviction notices filed during the quarter ended 30th September, 1906.

HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS (ROYAL COMMISSION).
Report on Manuscripts in various Collections. Vol. IV.
Presented (by Command), and ordered to lie on the table.

Additional rules and regulations for the government of the prisons in the Leeward Islands.
VICTORIA (THE CONSTITUTION ACT, 1906.)
To abolish the separate representation in Parliament of public officers and railway officers.
INDIA (LOANS RAISED IN ENGLAND).
Return of all loans raised in England under the provisions of any Acts of Parliament, chargeable on the revenues of India, outstanding at the commencement of the half-year ended on the 30th September, 1906, with the rates of interest and total amount payable thereon, and the date of the termination of each loan, the debt incurred during the half-year, the moneys raised thereby during the half-year, the loans paid off or discharged during the half-year, and the loans outstanding at the close of the half-year, stating, so far as the public convenience will allow, the purpose or service for which moneys have been raised during the half-year.
FORESHORES.
Treasury minute, dated 4th August, 1906, directing the application of moneys received by the Board of Trade in the year ended 31st March, 1906, in respect of the rights and interests of the Crown in the foreshores of the United Kingdom.

POST OFFICE (STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS, 1906.)
No. 651. (Inland Post).—The Inland Post Amendment (No. 5.) Warrant, 1906, dated 28th August, 1906.
No. 682. (Inland Post).—The Inland Post Amendment (No. 6) Warrant, 1906, dated 8th September, 1906.
No 704. (Inland Post).—The Inland Post Amendment (No. 7) Warrant, 1906, dated 12th September, 1906.
No. 730. (Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post).—The Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post Warrant, 1906, dated 26th September, 1906.

SHOP HOURS ACT, 1904.
I. Orders made by the councils of the following county, county boroughs, boroughs, cities and urban district councils, and confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, fixing the hours of closing for certain

15
classes of shops within their respective districts.

1. County of Gloucester, within the parishes of Kings wood and Mangobsfield.

2. County borough of Newport.

3. County borough of Huddersfield.

4. Borough of Middleton.

5. Borough of Smethwick.

6. Borough of Bridlington.

7. Borough of Neath.

8. City of Bradford.

9. City of Cardiff, within the Grangetown ward of the city.

10. Urban district of Aberdare.

11. Urban district of Willesden.

12. Urban district of Hindley.

13. Urban district of Mountain Ash.

II. Orders made by the Secretary for Scotland, providing for the early closing of certain classes of shops within the following burghs—

1. Arbroath.

2. Dundee (2 orders).

3. Fort William.

4. Helensburgh.

5. Johnstone.

6. Grangemouth.

7. Falkirk.

8. Renfrew.

FACTORY AND WORKSHOP.
(Employment: Certificate of Fitness).—Order made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in pursuance of Section 06 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, extending the provisions as to certificates of fitness to certain classes of workshops.
(Dangerous and Unhealthy Industries).—Regulations made by the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, in pursuance of Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, for use of locomotives and waggons on lines and sidings in or used in connection with premises under the Factory and Workshop Act.

POLLING DISTRICTS.
Orders made by the county council of the county of Surrey, sub-dividing a polling district in Kingston Parliamentary division.
County council of the county of Surrey, constituting certain polling districts within the county.
County council of the county of Southampton, altering certain polling districts in the Fareham Parliamentary division.
County council of the county of Lancaster, re-dividing the Middleton Parliamentary division into polling districts.
County council of the county of Durham, altering the name of the Pit Hill polling place to Beamish polling place.

PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS, 1853–1891 (CONDITIONAL LICENCE).
Licence granted by His Majesty to Harriet Measham, a convict under detention in Aylesbury Prison, permitting her to be at large on condition that she enter the Home of Compassion, London, S.W.
Licence granted by His Majesty to Joseph Symms, under the provisions of the Penal Servitude Acts, 1853 to 1891, to which are annexed conditions other than those contained in Schedule A of the Penal Servitude Act, 1864.
Licence granted by His Majesty to Ada Booth, a convict under detention in Aylesbury Prison, permitting her to be at large on condition that she enter the Elizabeth Fry Refuge, London, E.
Licence granted by His Majesty to Edith Dady, a convict under detention in Aylesbury Prison, permitting her to be at large on condition that she enter the Elizabeth Fry Refuge, London, E.

SUPERANNUATION.
Treasury minute, dated 31st August, 1906, declaring that William Sewell, lad, Royal Laboratory, War Department, was appointed without a civil service certificate through inadvertence on the part of the head of his department.
Treasury minute, dated 12th October, 1906, granting a retired allowance to Albert Bottomley, senior clerk, Engineer-in-Chief's Department, Post Office, under Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1887.
Treasury minute, dated 13th August, 1906, declaring that David Clements, artificer, Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock, was appointed without a civil service certificate through inadvertence on the part of the head of his department.

NATIONAL DEBT ACT, 1883, (TERMINABLE ANNUITIES).
Treasury warrant, dated 31st August, 1906, cancelling surplus consols purchased on account of the terminable annuity held on behalf of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
COUNTY COURTS, ENGLAND (FEES).
Treasury order, dated 2nd August, 1906, amending the order of 30th December, 1903, regulating court foes in county courts.
SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE.
Account of the receipts and expenditure of the Paymaster-General on behalf of the Supreme Court of Judicature in respect of the funds of suitors of the court in the year ended 28th February 1906; also account of the National Debt Commissioners for the same period in respect of funds held by them on behalf of the Supreme Court of Judicature, together with the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General thereon.

LOAN SOCIETIES.
Abstract of Accounts of loan societies in England and Wales furnished to the central office for the Registry of Friendly Societies, for the year ended 31st December, 1904.
Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table

UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE ACT, 1877.
Statute made by the Governing Body of Queen's College, Oxford, on the 28th February, 1906, and sealed on the 16th March, 1906, altering Statute XIII., 1, of the Statutes of the college.
Statutes made by the Governing Body of Queen's College, Oxford, on the 15th June, 1906, and sealed on the same day, altering Statute II., 21, and Statute IX., 3, respectively, of the Statutes of the college.
Statute made by the Governing Body of Merton College, Oxford, on the 3rd March, 1906, and sealed on the 6th March, 1906, altering Statute V., 3 (b), of the Statutes of the college
Statute made by the Governing Body of St. John's College, Oxford, on the 4th May, 1906, and scaled on the 7th
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June, 1900, altering Statute III., Clause 8, and Statute XVI., Clause 3, of the Statutes of the college.
Statute made by the Governing Body of All Souls' College, Oxford, on the 24th February, 1906, and sealed on the 31st March, 1906, altering Statute III., Clause 7, of the Statutes of the college.
Statute made by the Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge, and sealed on the 23rd March, 1906, altering Statute A., Chapter II., Degrees, Section 19, Affiliated Colleges, of the Statutes of the university.
Statute made by the Governing Body of St. John's College, Cambridge, on the 9th February, 1906, and sealed on the same day, repealing Statute XXXIV. of the Statutes of the college, and substituting there for an amended Statute XXXIV.
Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and to be printed. (No. 209.)

MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR BOARD.
Accounts of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, for the year ended 1st July, 1906. Delivered (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.
CEYLON.
Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governor of Ceylon on the subject of irrigation works in that island. Laid before the House (pursuant to Address of 30th July last), and to be printed. (No. 210.)
MARRIAGE WITH FOREIGNERS BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments agreed to.

EDUCATION (ENGLAND AND WALES) BILL.
THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE: My Lords, I beg to ask the noble Marquess opposite a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government, in consequence of their decision to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of "The King v. West Riding County Council," to modify in any way the arrangement under which the clauses of the Education Bill are to

19
be taken into consideration on Monday, s the 29th inst., and subsequent days.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL(The Marquess of RIPON): My Lords, it is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to make any alteration in the arrangement they have proposed to your Lordships' House for proceeding with this Bill. The appeal has been presented on purely administrative grounds. It has been found that the decision of the Court of Appeal, if it should ultimately be made good, would involve many difficulties of a serious kind affecting over 300 local authorities in various parts of the country. But, as the Bill which your Lordships are about to discuss will not come into operation until the beginning of 1908, there will be a period of more than a year in which the law would be in a state of uncertainty.
In these circumstances His Majesty's Government have thought it fit to make an appeal to your Lordships' House, as the supreme judicial tribunal, against the judgment given in the Court below. But it does not appear to us that the question raised by the decision of the Court very materially affects the consideration of the Bill which is now before your Lordships' House. If that Bill should pass, in whatever form, it will supersede altogether any judgment which has been given by your Lordships' House in its judicial capacity. In these circumstances, subject, of course, to what your Lordships may choose to do, the Government are ready, and it is our intention, to proceed with the Bill on Thursday as arranged.
LORD HENEAGE: My Lords, perhaps it would be for the convenience of the Government and of your Lordships that I should state now that I do not propose to proceed with the Instruction which stands in my name for Thursday next, namely—
"On the Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee being read, to move 'That it be an instruction to the Committee to amend the Education (England and Wales) Bill so as to provide for Christian religions teaching each day in all elementary schools for those children whose parents desire such religious instruction within school hours, and not secular instruction only.'"
I am given to understand that there are a number of your Lordships who desire to discuss parts of the Bill dealing
20
with administration which were not discussed on the Second Reading; and as I can perfectly well bring forward the points I desire to raise on one of the first Amendments to Clause 1 I shall not move my Instruction.

PUBLIC SLAUGHTER HOUSES BILL [H.L.]
House in Committee (according to Order).
[The Earl of ONSLOW in the Chair.]
Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.
Clause 3:—
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREexplained that the object of his Amendment to this clause was to make it quite clear that all slaughter houses when closed should be entitled to compensation.
Amendment moved—
"In Clause 3, page 2, line 6, after the word 'any,' to insert the words 'registered or.'"—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.
Remaining clauses agreed to, and Bill reported, as amended, to the House.
Bill re-committed to the Standing Committee; and to be printed as amended. [No. 211.]

SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS (IRELAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
*THE EARL OF MAYO: My Lords, this is a Bill to amend the law relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors in Ireland on Saturdays and Sundays, and for other purposes connected therewith. For thirty years those in favour of temperance have been urging the adoption of this measure. Two Royal Commissions have approved the Bill, and it has passed the House of

21
Commons on at least two occasions. I believe it has also passed this House.
The Bill as it now stands passed the House of Commons by very largo majorities, and when we consider that with a population of 4,250,000 in Ireland, the sum of from £10,000,000 to £12,000,000 is annually spent on drink, I am sure that any legislation which will tend to mitigate that evil will be welcomed. This is only a small measure, but it is an excellent one. By Clause 1 the public-houses in the large towns which are exempted in the Sunday Closing (Ireland) Act of 1878, are compelled to close at 5 p.m. on Sunday instead of 7 p.m.; and by Clause 2 the hour of closing of public-houses on Saturday is 10 p.m. in cities and towns where the population exceeds 5,000, and 9 p.m. in all other towns and places in Ireland. I believe that in Scotland, where Saturday early closing is in force, it has been accompanied by the best possible results, and there is no reason why public-houses in Ireland should be kept open on Saturdays until 11 p.m.
I now come to what is called the bonâ fide traveller clause, which has created a great deal of controversy in the other House. By this clause a person residing or lodging within the metropolitan police district of Dublin, or any of the cities of Waterford, Cork, Limerick, and Belfast, shall not be deemed to be a bona fide traveller unless the place where he lodged during the preceding night is at least five miles distant from the place where he demands to be supplied with liquor. Throughout the rest of Ireland the limit will remain what it is now—namely, three miles. I am well aware that this is a question which has been very much debated, and should an Amendment be moved in Committee upon it, I can only say that I have an entirely open mind on the matter. When the Bill came down from Grand Committee in the other House the limit was six miles all over Ireland, but at the last moment, on a hot night in July, when there was little time to deal with the matter, a compromise was effected and the limit reduced to five miles for the cities I have named, and three miles for other parts of the country.
I cannot pledge myself to accept any Amendment, but I repeat that I have an open mind on the matter. A great section of the trade us well as the tem-
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perance party are desirous that the Bill should pass, and, as a compromise has been arrived at, I hope the Bill will become law without further delay, and that no Amendment will be brought forward, lest its passing should imperil the Bill.
Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Mayo.)
LORD CLONBROCK: My Lords, I rise to support what my noble friend has said in moving the Second Reading of this Bill. I think the Bill is a step in the right direction, and it ought to be welcomed as such. But it is very much to be deplored that the Bill does not go considerably further, that it does not still retain the shape in which it was originally introduced into the House of Commons, or even in which it passed Grand Committee in that House.
My noble friend has alluded to the two main points in the Bill—the earlier closing of public-houses on Saturday night, and the provision with regard to bona fide travellers. In the Bill as it was originally introduced the hour of closing on Saturday was fixed at nine o'clock everywhere. That was in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission presided over by Lord Peel, which has been supported by all the authorities in favour of temperance in Ireland. A very large and representative conference met this year in Dublin, of which I had the honour of being chairman. It included the bishops of both churches in Ireland and a large number of representative men. We were received by the Lord-Lieutenant and handed His Excellency a memorial, which he was pleased to receive, containing these recommendations, among others, that the hour of closing should be nine o'clock everywhere on Saturday, and that the bona fide traveller limit should be extended to seven miles.
The Bill came to the House of Commons in this form, but before it went to Grand Committee a compromise was effected by which the hours of closing on Saturday were left as they now stand in the Bill—ten o'clock in towns of over 5,000 inhabitants and nine o'clock in other districts, and the bona fide traveller limit, which now stands at three miles, was increased to six miles. After

23
the Bill passed the Committee, some strong influences were apparently brought to bear, with the result that the bona fide traveller limit was altered to five miles in Dublin and certain other cities in Ireland, and left at three miles for the rest of the country. Everyone who has considered the matter must admit that it is absurd that a man who has travelled three miles should become a bona fide traveller. I think it is very much to be regretted that this compromise was effected, and that over the greater part of Ireland the limit still remains at three miles. It is a matter of complaint among the clergy that members of their congregation who live outside the three-mile limit come in to attend Mass and then go to the public house.
It is my intention to propose an Amendment, making the bona fide traveller limit six miles. I should also like to change the hour of closing everywhere to nine o'clock on Saturday, for it is in the towns of over 5,000 inhabitants that working-men mostly remain in public-houses spending their wages, very much to the detriment of their wives and families. I do not, however, wish to do anything to imperil the passing of the Bill. That there is a rather lukewarm feeling in the other House on the subject of temperance is shown by the fact that, though the Bill was passed by a large majority on Second Reading, these compromises were effected later on.
THE EARL OF MEATH: My Lords, I hope your Lordships will pass this Bill as introduced by the noble Earl. Personally I agree with Lord Clonbrock, and should have desired to see the Bill brought into this House as it was originally introduced into the House of Commons. Your Lordships are all aware that temperance legislation has been terribly handicapped in the past, owing to the fact that the most extreme people on either side could not come to a compromise. A compromise has now been arrived at in the case of Ireland; and I sincerely hope that England, Scotland, and Wales will not prevent the Emerald Isle obtaining this most beneficent measure.
LORD DENMAN: My Lords, the provisions of this Bill have been clearly outlined by the noble Earl opposite. It
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only remains for me to say that it has the good wishes and sympathy of the Government of Ireland, and that the Chief Secretary spoke in its favour in another place and voted for it. With regard to what Lord Clonbrock has said in reference to the bona fide traveller clause, I would emphasise what has fallen from the noble Earl, Lord Meath, that this particular clause is the result of a compromise. It is owing to that compromise that the Bill has reached this House, and it is doubtful whether it would have come up here but for that compromise. If the noble Lord intends to press his Amendment, I hope he will consider whether in doing so he may not tear up this compromise and imperil the progress of the Bill. His Majesty's Government are in favour of the measure, and would be glad to see it passed.
LORD ASHBOURNE: My Lords, I apprehend that none of your Lordships would desire to offer the slightest opposition to the Second Reading of this Bill, which I hope will pass with general consent. I quite appreciate the wisdom of the cautious words which have been used as to the introduction of Amendments imperilling the Bill. It came to your Lordships, as I understand, in its present shape as the result of a keenly-arranged compromise, and, of course, if it were sent back with any variation of those terms, except with general consent, the chances of the Bill passing into law would be greatly impaired. But I gathered from Lord Clonbrock that the Amendment he indicates would have the approval of those who are interested in the passing of this Bill, and would be just as much the result of a compromise as is the Bill in its present shape. I hope your Lordships will pass the Second Reading to-day and be extremely cautious in dealing with the next stage of the Bill.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.

SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE.
THE MARQUESS OF RIPON, who had given notice to move "That for the remainder of the session the sittings of this House shall be on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, unless

25
otherwise ordered," said: My Lords, I understood before the House separated for the holidays that there was a general feeling that your Lordships would prefer to sit on Wednesdays and not on Fridays during the remaining period of the session. Believing that such an arrangement would be likely to meet the wishes of noble Lords on both sides of the House, I gave notice of the Motion which stands in my name, and which, unless your Lordships object to it, I will now move—with this addition—that, after the words "this House," the words "except for judicial business" be inserted. The Lord Chancellor informs me that there may be occasions when it would be desirable that the House should meet for judicial business on a Friday.
Moved, "That for the remainder of the session the sittings of this House, except for judicial business, shall be on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, unless otherwise ordered."—(The Marquess of Ripon.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
Ordered, That for the remainder of the session the sittings of this House, except for judicial business, shall be on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, unless otherwise ordered.

HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES.
Order of the Day read for the further consideration of the Third Report from the Select Committee.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of ONSLOW): My Lords, it will be in the recollection of your Lordships that just before the adjournment of the House this Report was considered, and that, in deference to the views of noble Lords opposite, I consented to postpone that part of it which dealt with the office of Black Rod. A Select Committee of your Lordships' House, appointed in the last Session of Parliament, report that in their opinion the House had not power to remove from the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod those appointments of doorkeepers and messengers which at an earlier period it was believed were entirely under the control of this House. In those circumstances
26
they recommend your Lordships to reverse the decision which you arrived at in 1890, and that the appointments of doorkeepers and messengers should in future be in the gift of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. I therefore ask your Lordships to agree to the Report of the Committee.
Moved, "That the Report be now further considered."
On Question, Motion agreed to, and the remainder of the said Report agreed, to.

IMPORTATION OF HOUSES INTO IRELAND.
*THE EARL OF MAYO: My Lords, I rise to draw the attention of His Majesty's Government to the Order of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, dated 29th May, 1906, concerning the importation of horses, asses, and mules; and to ask for information thereon.
The Order was made in consequence of the prevalence of glanders in England. A great many of us feel that it is quite right that the ordinary importation of horses, asses, and mules should be restricted, but we should like to see thoroughbred brood mares exempted from the Order. This disease exists chiefly in two large towns—London and Glasgow—and your Lordships, of course, know that thoroughbred mares are not kept in. towns and are therefore not likely to contract the disease. There is in this Order an exemption applying to horses, asses, and mules belonging to the Army. Our experience in this matter in Ireland is an unfortunate one, for we had that terrible disease, epizootic lymphangitis, introduced into Ireland by the Army horses. We take exception to Army horses being exempted when we are compelled, in getting horses from England, to go before a magistrate, sign a declaration that the horse is perfectly healthy, and pay a veterinary surgeon a guinea for a certificate that the animal is free from disease. The large breeders and those who wish to send thoroughbred mares to sires in Ireland resent this vexatious provision, and there is the danger that in consequence the mares will not be sent to sires in Ireland.

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During the last five or six years London has contributed 75 par cent. of the reported cases of glanders in Great Britain. It is distinctly a metropolitan disease, and if it were stamped out in London and the great towns it would most likely disappear altogether. The obstacle in the way of effective measures is the want of sufficient money to compensate the owners of horses suffering from glanders and to induce them to submit their horses to the malin test. Deputations have waited upon successive Presidents of the Board of Agriculture urging them to deal with this question, and the County Council of London have spent large sums of money upon it. But the money that has been forthcoming is not sufficient.
In the case of pluro-pneumonia, for many years futile attempts were made to stamp it out, but in 1890 the Pluro-Pneumonia Act was passed. Animals suffering from the disease were slaughtered, and three-fourths of their value was given for all animals that had even been in contact with diseased beasts. Thus the disease was exterminated; and if pluro-pneumonia could be entirely wiped out in this way it is only reasonable to suppose that, were sufficient money forthcoming to enable proper precautions to be taken, the country could be rendered free from this very dangerous disease. I hope the noble Lord who will reply on behalf of His Majesty's Government will hold out some hope that pressure will be brought to bear upon the Treasury to provide the Department of Agriculture with sufficient money to deal with this horrible disease which attacks horses in large towns. I would also ask him whether he can hold out some hope that thoroughbred mares, which are not kept in towns, will be exempted from the Order.
LORD DENMAN: My Lords, the noble Lord has dwelt on what is in Ireland a very important subject—namely, horse breeding. Most of your Lordships will agree as to the great importance of horse breeding to Ireland, both as regards quality and quantity. The figures I have in my hand show that there are approximately 900,000 horses in Ireland to-day; that the value of the export trade in these horses probably reaches £1,000,000 annually; that 30,700 horses were exported and 6,000 horses imported
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in one year; and that 17,023 asses were exported and only seventy-eight imported. Naturally, it is the duty of the Government to safeguard horse breeding in Ireland. The fact that thirty cases of glanders were reported to the Department of Agriculture last year, while the annual average of the previous ten years had been seven, showed the necessity for some steps being taken. The Inspectors of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland examined into the cause, and came to the conclusion that the increase was due to the importation of horses of an inferior and partly worn-out class, gathered, many of them, from infected districts. Owing to the dispersion of tramway and omnibus studs in England numbers of these horses were sent over to Ireland and sold at low prices to the farmers there. This contributed to an increase of glanders, and we were therefore obliged to take steps to have imported animals examined by veterinary surgeons on entering the country.
Your Lordships know what a terrible disease glanders is, and how very difficult it is to stamp out when once it becomes prevalent. I had some experience of it myself in the Remount Department in South Africa, and I know how much it is to be dreaded by all owners of horses. No doubt it is possible that under the Regulations which have been drawn up by the Department of Agriculture certain cases of hardship may arise, but I would point out that to make the exceptions asked for by the noble Earl on behalf of thoroughbred stock would lead to the advance of other claims and give rise to difficulties and complaints. The Department of Agriculture has no jurisdiction over Army horses. I hope I have said enough to show that the Department of Agriculture has only drawn up prudent and careful regulations to prevent the spread of this disease in Ireland.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (Earl CARRINGTON): My Lords, the noble Earl opposite and my noble friend behind me have explained this matter so well that there is very little for mo to say. But, with regard to the suggestion of the noble Earl as to the exemption of thoroughbred stock, I would only say that I must reserve my judgment on that point until I can consider the recommendations that

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may emanate from a conference among persons engaged in the horse breeding industry. I will not fail to bring the noble Lord's suggestion before that conference, and he can be certain that it will receive full consideration.
The noble Earl is quite right in his statement that glanders exists principally in London and Glasgow, and he proceeded to ask why His Majesty's Government could not take the matter at once in hand and stamp out the disease in the same way as other cattle diseases have been stamped out in the past. I hope the noble Earl will not think me discourteous if I call his attention to the fact that the position of the finances of the country is very different now from that existing at the time to which the noble Earl alluded, and I must plead that this is not entirely the fault of those who sit on this side of the House. Noble Lords opposite will, I think, be willing to share the responsibility. Up to six years ago very little was known of this disease in England. In the last six years, however, it has increased very considerably, but during the whole of that time noble Lords opposite did very little in providing money to assist in stamping it out.
If I could secure £25,000 a year for three years I am assured by the experts that the Board of Agriculture would be perfectly able to stamp out this dread disease, which is dangerous not only to horses but to human beings as well. As regards the action taken in Ireland we have no reason to complain. Something like 27,000 horses are exported annually from Ireland into England. They also have a magnificent foreign trade. There is no such thing as farcy or glanders existing in Ireland, and Ireland has its great foreign trade, of which naturally it is very jealous, simply because it has a clean bill of health. I can assure the noble Earl that I am doing all I can to soften the heart of the Treasury, but until money is forthcoming the Board cannot in justice and in equity contest the right of the Irish Department to protect the health of Irish cattle.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF INDIA.
*LORD AMPTHILL: My Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether
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they are yet in a position to make a statement concerning the suggested extension of the representative element and of the limits of discussion in the Legislative Council of the Government of India, to which the Secretary of State referred in his speech of the 20th July,† and for the consideration of which purpose a Committee was appointed by the Viceroy.
I shall only say a very few words in putting this Question to His Majesty's Government, for nothing could be further from my intention than to provoke a discussion which would certainly be premature at the present time, and might possibly be inconvenient. My object is merely to elicit information on a subject which is of the greatest possible interest, not only to those who have had to do with India but also to the public at large, for I think your Lordships will agree with me that the growing popular interest in Indian affairs is a very striking and significant feature of the present day.
My inquiry is made in a sympathetic spirit, for, so far as I understand the objects which the Government of India and the Secretary of State have in view, I am in entire accord with them. It is my firm opinion that the time has come when some decided step should be taken to meet the hopes and aspirations which we ourselves have encouraged among the educated classes of India, to develop by the only possible means—that is to say, by an increased show of confidence—that political capacity which we expect them to show, and to give an earnest of pledges direct and implied which have been made by the British Government. I trust that I shall find myself in agreement with the methods by which it may eventually be proposed to attain those objects. I have only to add that I hope that if His Majesty's Government are not able to reply to my Question at the present time they will at any rate undertake to give the information to Parliament as soon as it is available.
EARL BEAUCHAMP: My Lords, the Answer which I have to give to the noble Lord is in the negative. A Committee was appointed by the Governor-General in August last, and that Committee is still sitting. The Secretary of State,
† See (4) Debates, clxi., 588.

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therefore, is not yet in a position to make any statement concerning the proposals which that Committee may make. Those proposals will have to be considered by the Governor-General in Council and by the Secretary of State in Council before any statement can be made.
*LORD AMPTHILL: May I ask the noble Earl whether he will give an undertaking that the information will be presented as soon as it is available?
[No Answer was returned].

EDUCATION BILL EXPENDITURE.
LORD AVEBURY: My Lords, I rise to ask the Lord President of the Council what will be the additional expenditure thrown upon the rates and taxes by the Education Bill; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing how the amount was arrived at, so that we may be able to consider whether it is possible to introduce any Amendments by which it may be reduced. Our rates and taxes are so high that it is very undesirable to impose any additional burdens on the nation which can possibly be avoided.
Certain members of the Government have during the recess been threatening your Lordships with I know not what terrible punishment if any Amendments of importance should be introduced. In their judgment the Bill comes to us with the moral support of a great majority at its back. On the contrary, though no doubt the Second Reading was carried by a great majority in the House of Commons, there seems no evidence of enthusiasm in the country, and if it were referred, in its present form, to a referendum vote many doubt whether it would be carried. The Liberal Publication Department, in their Report on the result of the last election, tell us that—
"On a total poll of nearly 6,000,000, the Liberal and Labour majority in votes is 837,000, or (excluding Ireland) 637,0U0. If the Government only held as many seats as this vote majority entitled it to proportionately, their seat majority would be ninety-four. As a fact it is 354."
That is to say, 260 more than they are entitled to. They should, indeed, as it seems to me, have taken the opposed
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seats only, and in that case the number of votes in the House of Commons which they enjoy would come out at about 120 more than they are entitled to from the votes given in the country. There were a few candidates who did not belong to either Party, but not enough to make any serious difference. These 120 votes count, of course, for 240 on a division. The Second Reading of the Bill was carried by 206, so that if the balance of parties in the House of Commons had corresponded to the votes in the country, even according to my more moderate estimates, the Bill would have been thrown out by over thirty votes.
It is evident, therefore, that the Bill comes with the support of the House of Commons, but not of the Nation, and if it be possible by any Amendment to reduce the expense which the Bill will throw upon the rates and taxes, there is every reason to believe that your Lordships will be acting in accordance with the wishes and would have the support of the country. In order that we may know what is the additional burden which the Bill would impose on the country, I beg to ask the Question standing in my name.
*THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL(The Earl of CREWE): My Lords, in reply to the Question placed on the Paper by the noble Lord opposite I have to say that the extra charge thrown on the taxes under the Bill is the sum of £1,000,000 provided by Clause 12, added to the expenses of the Commission formed under Clause 9 and 10 of the Bill. As regards the expenditure to be thrown upon the rates, that may come under three heads; in the first place, an additional burden may, and no doubt will, be thrown on the rates in respect of the structural repairs of the voluntary schools which are taken over; in the second place, in respect of the sums paid by way of rent or otherwise on the taking over of the schools; and, in the third place, in the shape of new annual charges for interest and sinking fund in cases where new council schools have to be built in the place of existing voluntary schools. I think the noble Lord must admit that until we have had some experience of what arrangements are made under the Bill—arrangements, I

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mean, made between local authorities and the owners and trustees of schools—it is impossible to say to what sums these additional charges will amount. To do that, you would have to look into the minds of many thousands of people under conditions for which no certain data exists. All that we can say is that in naming this sum of £1,000,000—named, of course, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his Budget—we considered that these charges were sufficiently provided for.
I understand from the form of the noble Lord's Question that he is afraid there may be some extravagance on the part of local authorities—a subject on which I know he feels very strongly—under the provisions of this Bill, and it may be as well to remind him what the principles are on which the distribution of the new grant will be framed. When the new grant is distributed, regard will be had, in the first place, to the actual increase of local burdens consequent upon the passing of the Bill, and, in the second place, to the amount of the educational burden upon the area. As I have already stated, it is obviously impossible, for the reasons which I have given, to lay down any detailed scheme for the distribution of the grant at this moment; but next year the Government hope to introduce a Bill which will amalgamate all the existing grants for elementary education with the £1,000,000 provided in the Bill and distribute the money on the principles I have indicated. Following a practice not infrequent in this House, of embroidering Questions on the Paper, if I may say so respectfully, with observations on larger Questions, the noble Lord has touched on much deeper issues than those one would have expected from the Notice on the Paper would have been raised. With them, it would be impossible, and, I think, improper, to deal now.
THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY: My Lords, the Question put by Lord Avebury is of an extremely useful character, and it has elicited information as to the future proposals of the Government with regard to this expenditure. I remember stating, when the Education Bill was being discussed, that I was at a loss to know how the sum of £1,000,000 had been arrived at, and that I had come to the conclusion that in
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all probabality it was fixed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, because he had no more money to spare. I hope that when we deal with this subject in Committee we shall hear from the noble Earl some details as to how the amount was arrived at. I did not gather that it was the result of any calculation of the number of schools or the number of children. This is a very important matter, and other questions arise out of it.
LORD AVEBURY: I did not understand, from the Answer of the noble Earl, whether His Majesty's Government feel that they are not in a position to state what the additional expenditure involved in the Bill is, or whether they consider it will be covered by the £1,000,000. I did not quite hear what the noble Earl said on that point.
LORD WENLOCK: should also like to ask the noble Earl whether, if the £1,000,000 which comes out of Imperial taxation is found not to be sufficient to meet the expenses involved under the Bill, the extra expenditure will fall on the rates.
*THE EARL OF CREWE: I hoped I had explained, in reply to the noble Lord's Question, that it is impossible to state until we know what arrangements are made under the Bill what the actual expenditure in any given case will be. The noble Marquess is perfectly right in concluding that the sum of £1,000,000 was not arrived at with reference to the possible outlay of any particular authority on any given schools in any given area. My noble friend Lord Wenlock will see that it would be obviously improper and utterly extravagant to promise any local authority that it would be reimbursed, from the Exchequer for any sum which it chose to expend under the provisions of this Bill. All that we say is that in distributing this £1,000,000, we shall have regard to the extra charge placed on the local authority by the Bill, and also regard to the actual sum expended for educational purposes in the area.
LORD WENLOCK: I am afraid I have not made myself quite clear. What I mean is this. The £1,000,000 is going to be allotted in the first place from

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Imperial taxation, and I should like to ask——
*THE EARL OF CREWE: I am sorry to interrupt my noble friend, but would it not be better if he placed his Question on the Paper?
LORD HENEAGE: I should like to ask the noble Earl on what basis the calculation has been made with regard to the amount of money that will be required for the rent of these schools, and, in cases where they have to purchase the schools, what provision has been made for the interest on that money.
*THE EARL OF CREWE: I am afraid I can add nothing to what I have already said in reply to the noble Lord.

MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL [H.L.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read, and discharged.
House adjourned at twenty-five past rive o'clock, till Tomorrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.