Lords Sitting of 7 August 1914

THE CHURCH IN WALES.
Leave given to the Select Committee to report from time to time. First Report made, and to be printed; Minutes of Evidence and Proceedings laid upon the Table, and to be delivered out. (No. 238.)
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) BILL.
GLASGOW CORPORATION (CELLULOID) BILL.
Message from the Commons that they have resolved, That it is desirable to suspend any further proceedings on the London County Council (General Powers) Bill and the Glasgow Corporation (Celluloid) Bill, until the next Session of Parliament, and to request that their Lordships will concur in such suspension: The said Message considered (on Motion) and agreed to, and a Message ordered to be sent to the Commons that the Lords concur with them in suspending the said Bills.

PACK-BERESFORD'S DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
Message from the Commons that they have resolved, That it is desirable to suspend any further proceedings on the Pack-Beresford Divorce Bill [H.L.] until the next Session of Parliament; and to request that their Lordships will concur in such suspension: The said Message considered (on Motion) and agreed to; and a Message ordered to be sent to the Commons that the Lords concur with them in suspending the said Bill.
ISLE OF MAN (CUSTOMS) BILL.
To be printed. (No. 239.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 3) BILL.
House in Committee (according to Order): Bill reported without amendment: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª and passed.
KIRKCALDY CORPORATION ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL.
Read 3ª (according to Order), and passed.

THE FEEDING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN: My Lords, seeing the First Commissioner of Works in his place, I wish to ask him a Question of which I have given him private notice. Yesterday your Lordships passed an Education (Provision of Meals) Bill which empowered local education authorities to spend out of the rates such sums as they might choose for feeding children, and the Bill covered the period of holidays, which was not covered by the previous Act. The Bill passed yesterday extends to England only, for it is an amendment of the Act of 1906. I understand that Ireland was included when the Bill was in Committee in the other House, but that as that was found not to be in order a similar Bill has been drafted for Ireland, which I believe in due course will be brought before the House. With regard to Scotland, however, nothing is said. The arrangements with regard to feeding children in Scotland are different from those which prevail in England, but if there is any provision in this new Bill which goes further than the benefits allowed at the present time by the Scottish law, I would suggest that the noble Lord should ask the Scottish Office to consider whether it would not be desirable to bring in a similar Bill specially dealing with Scotland. It is, of course, desirable that all the three countries should be treated exactly in the same way.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (LORD EMMOTT): My Lords, I have only just received the information enabling me to reply to the noble Earl, but I think that after I have given it he will see that there is no necessity for a Bill for Scotland to give the authorities there the powers that are given by the Bills to which he has referred. The Elementary Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1914, which was passed yesterday, alters the law of England in the following way. It legalises the provision of meals during holidays and on other days when the schools are not open; it repeals the limit proposed by the Act of 1906, under which the expenditure of local education authorities on the provision of food was limited to the produce of a half-penny rate; and it abolishes the necessity for obtaining the sanction of the Board of Education to expenditure out of the rates on the provision of meals. In Scotland there is no limitation on the

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powers of a school board in providing meals for necessitous children such as existed under the unamended Act in England; consequently the need for an amendment of the law in Scotland does not arise.
The powers of a school board in Scotland as regards the provision of meals are set forth in Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, which obliges a school board to feed necessitous children if this cannot be provided for by voluntary agency. The Statute does not limit the provision to times of actual attendance at school, and therefore the children may be fed during holidays. Nor does it give the Scottish Education Department any title to question the discretion of the school board as to which children are to be regarded as necessitous. I may direct the noble Earl's attention to a Minute, a copy of which I hold in my hand, issued on July 25 last and laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on July 27, which empowers the Department to make a grant to school boards equal to one-half of the net cost to the rates of their expenditure on the provision of meals; and I may also inform the noble Earl that a Circular is being issued to all school boards in Scotland to-day directing the attention of those boards to their powers and duties under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, with reference to the special circumstances of the country. I think, therefore, that the noble Earl will see that no necessity arises in Scotland for the special legislation which has been found requisite in England, and which apparently is also necessary for Ireland.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE: My Lords, I beg to ask the noble Marquess a Question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether he is able to give the House any information as to tile course of business during the remainder of the session.
*THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE): My Lords, will endeavour to answer the noble Marquess's Question as fully as I can. I may say, in the first place, that it will be necessary to have a sitting of the House to-morrow—I should hope quite a short sitting, a morning sitting—in order to deal with the Housing Bill. That Bill as
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originally introduced has been divided into two parts. Your Lordships will be asked to-day to deal, under our present urgency procedure, with one part of it—that is to say, the part that applies to certain Government housing. As regards the other part, I understand that it will come up in a form generally agreed in another place. It will be taken in its earlier stages to-morrow, with the object that it may return to another place on Monday with a view of certain Amendments being either accepted or inserted there. As regards the rising of the House, it will not be until Monday that I shall be able to make a definite statement on that subject. I understand that my right hon. friend in another place is making a similar engagement to the Leader of the Opposition there, and I hope that the noble Marquess opposite will regard that as satisfactory.

NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT, 1911 (PART II AMENDMENT) BILL.
Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House in Committee accordingly.
[The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE in the Chair.]
Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.
Clause 3:
Determination of question whether a person is a workman.
3.—(1) Where any question arises under Part II of the principal Act whether a person is a workman within the meaning of that Part, the question shall be decided in the like manner as a question whether a workman is a workman in respect of whom contributions are payable under that Part, or whether a trade in which a workman is employed is an insured trade., and the provisions of Part II of the principal Act relating to the determination of such questions and the consequences of decisions thereon, and requiring any such questions to be referred to the umpire, shall apply accordingly.
(2) Where, in pursuance of regulations made by the Board of Trade under Part II of the principal Act, a decision has been obtained from the umpire that contributions under that Part are not payable in respect of any workman, or class of workmen, and the umpire certifies that he has subsequently revised such decision so as to make contributions payable in respect of such workman, or class of workmen, or any of them, contributions shall be so payable only from the date when the decision was so revised.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: I move to add a new subsection to this clause. On the Report stage of the Bill in the other House an Amendment was moved by Mr. King providing that the Arbitration Act of 1889 was not to apply to proceedings before the umpire except so far as it might be applied by regulations. The Government in the other House accepted that Amendment, and the object of the subsection which I now move is to extend Mr. King's Amendment by applying it to all proceedings before the umpire.
Amendment moved—
Page 3, line 5, at end insert as a new subsection:
( ) Subsections (3) and (4) of section eighty-eight of the principal Act shall apply to all proceedings before the umpire whether under that section or under any other provision of Part II of the principal Act.—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 3, as amended, agreed to.
Clauses 4 to 7 agreed to.
Clause 8:
Amendment of s. 101 (2) of principal Act.
8.—(1) Where an employer has been convicted under subsection (2) of section one hundred and one of the principal Act of the offence of failing or neglecting to make any contribution under Part II of that Act, then, if notice of the intention to do so is served with the summons or warrant, evidence may be given of the failure or neglect on the part of the employer to pay other contributions in respect of the same workman during the year preceding the date when the information was laid, and on proof of such neglect or failure the employer shall be liable to pay to the unemployment fund a sum equal to the total amount of all the contributions which he is so proved to have failed or neglected to pay, which sum when paid shall be treated as a payment in satisfaction of such contributions, and the workman's portion of such contributions shall not be recoverable by the employer from the workman.
(2) The following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (6) of section one hundred and one of the principal Act, namely:—
(7) The Arbitration Act, 1889, shall not apply to proceedings under the last foregoing subsection except so far as it may be applied by regulations under this Part of this Act.
(3) A court of summary jurisdiction in Ireland shall have the same power as a court of summary jurisdiction in England in the case of a person convicted for an offence under subsection (1) of section one hundred and one of the principal Act to impose a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds instead of imprisonment, if they think that the justice of the case will be better met by a fine than imprisonment.
(4) All proceedings for any contravention or non-compliance with the provisions of Part II so far as relating to matters under Part II of the principal Act, or this Act, or the regulations made there under, shall in Scotland be instituted
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and carried on under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Acts, and may be taken at the instance of the procurator fiscal or the Board of Trade.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: I move to leave out subsection (2). This Amendment is consequential.
Amendment moved—
Page 6, line 25, leave out subsection (2).—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 8, as amended, agreed to.
Remaining clauses agreed to.
Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended): Amendments reported: Bill read 3ª, and passed, and returned to the Commons, and to be printed as amended. (No. 240.)

ARMY SUPPLY OF FOOD, FORAGE AND STORES BILL.
Brought from the Commons.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD LUCAS): My Lords, I ask your Lordships to pass through all its stages, under the procedure which the House has allowed to be adopted in regard to Bills of great emergency, a Bill to enable food, forage, and military stores for His Majesty's Forces to be requisitioned in cases of emergency. The proposal contained in the Bill is that food, forage, and military stores and materials shall be placed on the same footing as horses, carriages, and vessels are on at the present time. The War Office are extremely anxious to have this Bill passed, if possible, to-night, because they are being met with formidable difficulties in obtaining stores. A great many cases have occurred where they are being charged excessive prices, and if it is permitted to continue I understand from the War Office authorities that it is going to cause p6ssibly a certain delay in the mobilisation which is taking place at the present moment. I therefore ask your Lordships to allow the Bill to pass through all its stages to-day.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1ª.—(Lord Lucas.)
On Question, Bill read 1ª, and to be printed.
Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 2ª: Committee negatived: Bill read 3ª and passed. (No. 251.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION BILL.
Amendments reported (according to Order).
Clause 5:
Payment and allocation of fines and lees.
5.—(1) A court of summary jurisdiction in fixing the amount of any fine to be imposed on an offender shall take into consideration, amongst other things, the means of the offender so far as they appear or are known to the court; and where a fine is imposed the payment of the court fees and police fees payable in the case up to and including conviction shall not be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of the tine to be imposed in addition to the fine, but the amount of the fine, or of such part thereof as may be paid or recovered, shall be applied as follows:—

(a) in the first base in the repayment to the informant or complainant of any court or police fees paid by him;

(b) in the second place in the payment of any court fees not already paid by the informant or complainant, which maybe payable under the table of fees set out in the First Schedule to this Act;

(c) in the third place in the payment of any police fees not already paid by the informant or complainant; and

(d) the balance (if any) remaining after the aforesaid payments have been made shall be paid to the fund or person to which the fine is directed to be paid by the enactments relating to the offence in respect of which the fine was imposed, or if there is no such fund or person, then to the fund into which the court fees are paid.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court front adjudging the offender to pay in addition to any fine imposed by the court any sum in respect of costs or expenses, other than such fees aforesaid, properly incurred by the informant or complainant or other person in respect of the proceedings or in respect of any compensation which the court may have power to award.
(3) In this section the expression "police fees" means all duly authorised fees payable to any constable in the execution of his duty.
LORD PARMOOR LORD PARMOOR had on the Paper an Amendment to subsection (2), after the word "proceedings," to insert "But such sum shall not be imposed as part of the fine, and the offender shall not be liable to imprisonment for the non-payment thereof." The noble Lord said: I explained in Committee my objection to subsection (2) of Clause 5, on the ground that it is not fair to add costs to the amount of the fine so that in the result a defendant who could not afford to pay the costs might be imprisoned in respect of costs as distinct from fine. I have put down an
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Amendment in order to secure that no such result should follow. But if the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack could assent to the omission of subsection (2) altogether, that would, in my opinion, be a better way of dealing with the difficulty.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT HALDANE): I am quite prepared to meet the noble and learned Lord by omitting subsection (2).
Amendment moved—
Omit, subsection (2).—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 18:
Consecutive sentences of imprisonment.
18. Where a sentence of imprisonment is passed on any permit by a court of summary jurisdiction, the court may order that the sentence shall commence at the expiration of any other term of imprisonment to which that person has been previously sentenced, so however that where two or more sentences passed by a court of summary jurisdiction are ordered to run consecutively the aggregate term of imprisonment shall not exceed six months.
THE EARL OF DERBY: I move to add, at the end of the clause, the words standing in my name.
Amendment moved—
Page 12, line 36, after ("months") insert ("unless such sentences included at least two sentences for indictable offences dealt with summarily by consent or on a plea of guilty, in which case the aggregate term of imprisonment shall not exceed twelve months").—(The Earl of Derby.)
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: This is an Amendment for which there is a good deal to be said, and I am glad to accept it.
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Clause 34:
Appointment and remuneration of and accounting by justices' clerks.
34.—(1) Clerks to justices shall continue to be appointed as heretofore, but no appointment made after the commencement of this Act shall be valid unless and until it is confirmed by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall, before confirming any such appointment, take into consideration any representations that may be made to him, in the case of the appointment of a clerk to borough justices by the council of the borough, and in the case of the appointment of a clerk to county justices by the standing joint committee of the county.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general or local Act to the contrary, the salaries of clerks to justices shall be fixed and may from time to time be varied

(a) in the case of a clerk to borough justices, by the justices of the borough; and

(b) in the case of a clerk to county justices, by the standing joint committee of the county:

Provided that—

(i) in the case of the salary of a clerk to borough justices, the council of the borough or the clerk; and

(ii) in the case of the salary of a clerk to county justices, the county justices for whom the clerk acts or the clerk,

may appeal to the Secretary of State against the decision of the justices or standing joint committee, as the case may be, and the amount of the salary shall thereupon be determined by the Secretary of State.
(3) If the justices for any petty sessional division make representations to the standing joint committee of the county with a view to the variation of the salary of their clerk, the standing joint committee shall at a meeting of which special notice has been given take into consideration the question of varying the salary.
(4) The authority by whom the salary of a clerk is fixed may allow him such special remuneration in addition to his salary as they may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, determine, in respect of any duties which were not taken into account in fixing his salary.
(5) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to clerks at metropolitan police courts nor to the clerks to the justices of the city of London nor to the clerk to any stipendiary magistrate other than a stipendiary magistrate appointed under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882.
(6) If any clerk to justices fails without sufficient reason to account for or pay over any suns within one month from the time when he was required to account for or pay over the suns under section six of the Justices' Clerks Act, 1877, he shall be deemed to have wilfully omitted to account for or pay over that stun within the meaning of that section, but no person shall sue for a sum recoverable under that section as amended by this section, except the person or authority to whom the account or payment is required to be made.
LORD PARMOOR LORD PARMOOR had on the Paper an Amendment to delete from subsection (2), the words "Provided that" down to the end of the subsection. The noble Lord said: This Amendment has reference to a matter which was also discussed the other day—namely, leaving to the local authority the fixing of the amount of salary to be paid to the clerk to the justices of the peace. With the assent of the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack I will not move the Amendment which is down in my name, but will support, if I might, the Amendments standing in the name of the Lord Chancellor, which carry out what I desire.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR THE LORD CHANCELLOR moved to amend the proviso so that it would read—
Provided that—

(i) in the case of the salary of a clerk to borough justices, the council of the borough; and

(ii) in the case of the salary of a clerk to county justices, the county justices for whom the clerk acts; and

(iii) in either case where the proposal is for a reduction of salary, the clerk to the justices

may appeal to the Secretary of State against the decision of the justices or standing joint committee, as the case may be, and the amount of the salary shall thereupon be determined by the Secretary of State.
The noble and learned Viscount said: The Amendments standing in my name to this clause are to meet the point to which the noble and learned Lord (Lord Parmoor) has referred.
Amendments moved—
Page 18, line 25, leave out ("or the clerk")
Page 18, line 27, leave out ("or the clerk")
Page 18, line 27, at end, insert ("and
(iii) in either ease where the proposal is for a reduction of salary, the clerk to the justices").—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Amendments agreed to.
Clause 42:
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: The Amendments standing in my name to Clause 42 are merely consequential upon Amendments made on the last stage of the proceedings here and in the other House.
Amendments moved—
Page 21, line 39, leave out from ("1890") to ("an") in line 1 of page 22.
Page 23, line 29, leave out from ("shall") to end of line 34, and insert ("not apply.")
Page 23, line 35, after ("5") insert ("Subsection (1) of section four of this Act shall apply as if references to proceedings for enforcing bastardy or maintenance orders were omitted therefrom").
Page 24, line 3, after ("Scotland") insert ("from and after such date as may be prescribed by the Secretary for Scotland").—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Amendments agreed to.
Drafting Amendments also agreed to.
Clause 43:
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: The Amendments to this clause are also consequential.
Amendments moved—
Page 25, line 3, after ("1902") insert ("and")
Page 25, line 8, leave out from ("1877") to the end of line 11.
Page 27, line 17, at end insert ("regulating and prescribing any other matter or thing which for the purposes aforesaid requires to be regulated or prescribed, and").—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Amendments agreed to.
First Schedule:
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: My Amendment to the First Schedule bears on an Amendment which was inserted in Committee on the motion of the noble Viscount, Lord St. Aldwyn. It was a good Amendment, and we wish to make it clear that it extends to costs up to the time of conviction.
Amendment moved—
Page 29, line 24, after ("duties") insert ("up to and including conviction").—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed, and returned to the Commons, and to be printed as amended. (No. 211.)

ANGLO-PERSIAN OIL COMPANY (ACQUISITION OF CAPITAL) BILL.
[SECOND READING]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL (LORD STRACHIE): My Lords, this is a Bill to authorise the Treasury to advance a sum not exceeding £2,200,000 for the purpose of the acquisition of share or loan capital of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Strachie.)
*VISCOUNT BRYCE: My Lords, I do not rise to discuss this Bill to-day. But if it had come before your Lordships' House a month ago I should have felt bound to call attention to the very large and grave questions of Imperial policy, and more particularly of Indian policy, which the Bill raises, and to ask His Majesty's Government for an explanation of their views. It is not possible to do so now, because we could not have full and free discussion on those issues without touching upon matters to which, for reasons which will occur to all of your Lordships, it would not be desirable at this moment to refer. I feel bound, therefore, to abstain from any discussion. But I have said these words only lest it should be supposed that many of us in this House, without distinction of Party, are insensible to those very large and grave issues to which I have referred, and which do not seem, if I may venture to say so with respect, to have received quite adequate debate in the other House of Parliament.
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

COUNTY TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS (QUALIFICATION) (SCOTLAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD EMMOTT: My Lords, this measure, which passed with general consent through another place, assimilates the qualification for candidates for local government bodies in Scotland to that which is now the law in England. In effect it adds to the present qualification, which is that of being on the register, a qualification of residence for a year in the constituency in question. I think there is no opposition to the Bill, and if that is the case I shall ask your Lordships to be good enough to pass it through all its stages to-day.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Emmott.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXLK having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

DISEASES OF ANIMALS (IRELAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD WIMBORNE: My Lords, this Bill in its present shape comes before your Lordships as an agreed measure. The sum total which it is possible to raise for purposes connected with the Diseases of Animals (Ireland) Act is eightpence in the £; it was extended to eightpence in 1901. The whole of that sum is now exhausted with the exception of a half-penny in the £. It is therefore proposed to increase the total from eightpence to a shilling, thus giving the authorities sufficient margin to enable them to carry on the work in connection with diseased animals in Ireland. If your Lordships agree to the principle of the Bill I will ask you to allow it to go through all its stages to-day.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Wimborne.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

ENTAILS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
[SECOND READING.]
LORD EMMOTT: My Lords, this also is an agreed Bill which has recently been passed in another place. Not only is it agreed, but it is a Bill that was drawn up by a representative committee of Scottish lawyers, including the greatest authorities in Scotland at the present time, and it received in another place the support not only of the Lord Advocate, but of Mr. Scott-Dickson and Mr. Clive. It puts a stop to the creation of new entails, but it leaves entails already created to come to an end under the existing law. So far as I know, there is no opposition to the Bill, and if your Lordships agree to the Second Reading I shall ask you to pass it through all its stages this afternoon.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Emmott.))
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

FEUDAL CASUALTIES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD EMMOTT: My Lords, this is also an agreed Bill, but I have been asked since I came into the House what feudal casualties are. I am almost ashamed to say that I have only recently learned what they are. Feudal casualties, I understand, are casual payments made by what in Scotland is an owner to the superior. There are casual payments of this kind which occur on the death of a superior, and it is to extinguish those payments that this Bill is brought in. They are to be extinguished within fifteen years on payment of reasonable compensation to the superior. I think from what I have been told regarding this Bill that I can safely recommend it to your Lordships' consideration.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Emmott.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

EAST AFRICAN PROTECTORATES (LOANS BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD STRACHIE: My Lords, this is another Treasury Bill. It authorises the Treasury to advance a sum not exceeding £3,000,000 by way of loan to the Protectorates of British East Africa, Nyasaland, and Uganda. The various amounts are set out in the schedule to the Bill, and the usual rule obtains that the money is not to be advanced at any loss to the Treasury. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Strachie.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION (IRELAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
LORD WIMBORNE: My Lords, this is an agreed Bill. It is designed to raise the standard and improve the position of teachers in intermediate schools in Ireland. These schools correspond to what are called secondary schools in England. The object is carried oat in two ways. A register of intermediate school teachers is to be established by the Lord Lieutenant on lines similar to those on which a register of teachers has been established in England under the Education Act, 1907, and an annual grant of £40,000 is to be provided by Parliament and to be distributed by the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland in accordance with rules to be framed by the Lord Lieutenant. The outlines of those rules have already been presented to Parliament in the shape of a White Paper. It may be stated generally that the aim of the rules is to secure that qualified teachers in the schools which participate in the teachers' salary grant will receive reasonable remuneration and will not be dismissed, except for misconduct, without reasonable notice. The position of intermediate school teachers in Ireland has long been known to be a very unsatisfactory one, and the cause of education will be very much assisted by putting them in a better position and establishing a register which will give a certain status to such qualified teachers. The Bill has not met with any opposition in the other House, and I hope your Lordships will give it a Second Reading and pass it through its remaining stages to-day.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Wimborne.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: My Lords, this is a simple Bill, which passed through the House of Commons without any oppose-
466
tion. Its object is to transfer the appointment of examiners for masters' and mates' certificates from the local marine boards to the Board of Trade. As it has met with no opposition, I trust that your Lordships will allow it to pass through all its stages this afternoon.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.— (The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (CONVENTION) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: My Lords, the object of this Bill is to give effect to the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea which was signed in London last January. For some considerable time it has been the object of this country and of all nations to bring their arrangements in regard to safety of life at sea more or less into harmony. This Bill deals with certain contingencies, such as the obligation of ships to go to the assistance of other ships in case of distress, and what they should do in certain conditions when they meet ice, and the Bill makes it compulsory on all passenger ships carrying more than fifty hands to have wireless telegraphic apparatus installed. The Bill has met with no opposition in the other House, and I trust that your Lordships will agree to pass it through all its remaining stages this afternoon.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXX IX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: I have a small Amendment which I beg to move. It is to add a new subsection at the end of Clause 29.
Amendment moved—
Insert the following new subsection—
(5) This Act shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 1915.
Provided that His Majesty's Government may, by Order in Council from time to tune, postpone the coming into operation of this Act for such period not exceeding on any occasion of postponement one year as may be specified in the Order.—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Amendment agreed to.
Bill passed and returned to the Commons, and to be printed as amended. (No. 242.)

MILK AND DAIRIES (SCOTLAND) BILL.
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading Read.
LORD EMMOTT: My Lords, this is a consolidating and amending Bill dealing with milk supplies in Scotland. It has several objects. One is the appointment by the local authorities of a veterinary inspector; another is the inspection of dairies and the cattle contained in them; another is the registration of dairies, the provision of by-laws for various purposes, and the issue of regulations by the Local Government Board of Scotland for the prevention of danger to public health from the importation of milk, and for securing the supply of pure and wholesome milk. Although the subject is a very important one and has been contentious in the past, I am able to assure your Lordships on this occasion that the Bill mutatis mutandis is, for all practical purposes, similar to the measure recently passed through your Lordships' House applying to England. It left another place as an agreed Bill, and I understand that there is no opposition likely to be offered to the Bill in your Lordships' House. I may say that several of the Amendments recently put into the Bill were the result of a conference between the Local Government Board, the Board of Agriculture, and the representatives of the agricultural interest.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Emmott.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

METROPOLITAN POLICE (EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND) (No. 2) BILL
[SECOND READING]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
VISCOUNT ALLENDALE: My Lords, this is a Bill to extend the Metropolitan Police Act, 1864, to Scotland. I beg to move.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Viscount Allendale.)
On Question, Bill read 2ª.
Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.

THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS
THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN: My Lords, I beg to ask whether any steps have been taken, or are in contemplation, with a view to giving the military status to the Volunteers in Ireland.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: My Lords, I have been in consultation with Lord Kitchener about this question, and I have his authority for informing your Lordships that he attaches much importance to the point which the noble Earl has raised. He has it under sympathetic consideration, and before long he hopes to be able to make some announcement on the subject.

HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES.
Order of the Day for the consideration of the Third Report of the Select Committee read.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE): My Lords, there is nothing in this Report to which I need draw attention except the fact that two of your Lordships' servants have been called away on active service. We recommend that they should receive full pay during their absence, and I hope your Lordships will agree to that recommendation.
Moved, That the Report be adopted.—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

THE POLICE AND NEWSBOYS.
THE EARL OF SELBORNE: My Lords, I rise to ask the noble Marquess the Leader of the House a Question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether the Police can in any way regulate the action of newsboys, especially late at night. It needs little imagination to realise what the effect may he in a few days or in a few weeks time of the words "Awful slaughter" resounding through the streets in the early hours of the morning. I understand that the Police are anxious to have power to deal with this matter.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWE: My Lords, I will certainly bring to the notice of the Home Secretary the point which the noble Earl has raised. I can say at once that it seems to me that if it is possible for the Police—and I cannot believe it can be impossible—to obtain powers to deal with this matter, they ought to be entrusted with them. These are certainly not times at which we desire to encourage any kind of fictitious excitement. There is quite enough that is serious, without any fictitious addition. Therefore I will lose no time in bringing the matter to the notice of my right hon. friend.
VISCOUNT ST. ALDWYN: If it would require legislation for this purpose, I hope that the placards which are used all over the place may be included, for they do as much harm as the street cries.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWE: I will include that point in bringing the matter to the notice of my right hon. friend.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL.
Brought from the Commons, endorsed with the Certificate of the Speaker that the Bill is a Money Bill within the meaning of the Parliament Act, 1911: Read 1ª, and to be printed: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 2ª (The Lord Privy Seal (M. Crewe)): Committee negatived: Bill read 3ª, and passed. (No. 243.)
EDUCATION (PROVISION OF MEALS) (IRELAND) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Lord Ashby St. Ledgers). (No. 244.)
INJURIES IN WAR (COMPENSATION) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Lord Strachie). (No. 245.)
LABOURERS (IRELAND) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Lord Ashby St. Ledgers). (No. 246.)
HOUSING BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Lord Lucas). (No. 247.)
POLICE RESERVISTS ALLOWANCES BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Viscount Allendale). (No. 248.)
PUBLIC WORKS LOANS BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and to be read 2ª To-morrow (The Lord Strachie). (No. 249.)

PATENTS, DESIONS AND TRADE MARKS (TEMPORARY RULES) BILL.
Brought from the Commons.
THE EARL OF GRANARD: My Lords, this is a small Bill rendered necessary owing to the war. In many cases persons, owing to being on active service or resident abroad, are unable to forward their renewal fees; and without this Bill patents in respect of which the renewal fees are not paid would lapse. I ask your Lordships to pass the Bill through all its stages to-day.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1ª—(The Earl of Granard.)
On Question, Bill read lª, and to be printed.
Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 2ª: Committee negatived: Bill read 3ª and passed. (No. 250.)
BANKRUPTCY BILL. [H.L.]
DEEDS OF ARRANGEMENT BILL. [H.L.]
EDINBURGH AND DISTRICT WATER ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to.
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN) BILL.
OSBORNE ESTATE BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments, agreed to.

WICK HARBOUR ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1ª; to be printed; and (pursuant to the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899), deemed to have been read 2ª (The Lord Emmott), and reported from the Committee, and to be read 3ª To-morrow. (No. 252.)

MILK AND DAIRIES BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments, agreed to.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The following 57 Bills received the Royal Assent—

Consolidation Fund (Appropriation).

British Nationality and Status of Aliens.

Exportation of Horses.

Trade Marks.

Education (Provision of Meals).

Expiring Laws Continuance.

Patents and Designs.

County and Borough Councils (Qualification).

Coal Mines.

Electoral Disabilities (Naval and Military Service) Removal.

Isle of Man (Customs).

Army (Supply of Food, Forage and Stores).

Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (Temporary Rules).

472

Mall Approach (Improvement).

Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 5).

Gas Provisional Order (No. 2).

Gas Provisional Orders (No. 3).

Glasgow Corporation Order Confirmation.

Clyde Navigation Order Confirmation.

Local Government Provisional Order (No. 20).

Pier and Harbour Provisional Orders (No. 2).

Leighton Buzzard Gas.

Gas Light and Coke Company.

Leeds Corporation.

Edenbridge and District Gas.

Midland Railway.

Skegness Urban District Council.

South Western and Isle of Wight Junction Railway.

Manchester Corporation.

West Gloucestershire Water.

Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway.

London County Council (Tramways and Improvements).

Northwich Urban District Council.

Riddings District Gas.

Southend Gas.

Wadhurst and District Gas.

Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.

Poole Harbour.

Great Northern Railway.

Hayward's Heath Gas.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation.

Ossett Corporation.

Walsall Corporation.

St. Anne's-on-the-Sea Improvement.

Bristol Corporation (Tramways).

Porthcawl Urban District Council.

Wimbledon Corporation.

Great Central Railway (Pension Fund).

Weston-Super-Mare Urban District Council.

Wesleyan and General Assurance Society.

Glasgow Corporation (Tramways, &c.).

City of London (Various Powers).

Clergy Mutual Assurance Society.

Isle of Thanet Gas.

London County Council (Money).

Oxford and District Tramways.

Weymouth and Melcombe Regis Corporation.

House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, Twelve o'clock.