Sitting of 22 June 1917

Preamble
The House met at Twelve of the clock, Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Land Drainage (Ewerby) Provisional Order Bill,
Land Drainage (Swaffham) Provisional Order Bill,
Read the third time, and passed.

INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION (IRELAND).
Copy presented of Rules and Schedule containing the Programme of Examinations for 1918 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 97.]
RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
Copy presented of Report on Joint Standing Industrial Councils by the Sub-Committee on Relations between Employers and Employed of the Reconstruction Committee [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
  WAR.
    FOOD SUPPLIES.

      SOLDIERS' PURCHASES.
      Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has issued any Orders restricting soldiers from buying in military canteens the amount of food which they would receive were they on rations instead of receiving a money allowance in lieu of rations?
      The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman): No Orders have been issued
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      by the Ministry of Food on this subject. A circular has been sent to the Canteen Committee by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), with the concurrence of the Food Controller and the Minister of Munitions, suggesting the general observance of rations in accordance with the scale of allowance prescribed by the Public Meals Order, with such variations as may seem desirable having regard to the occupation of the person supplied.
      Sir H. CRAIK: Am I to understand that if it is represented that a strict rule of this sort has been laid down that is a misrepresentation?
      Mr. BRIDGEMAN: I can show my hon. Friend the Order.
      Sir H. CRAIK: It is only a suggestion, not an Order.
      Sir H. CRAIKasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the War Office has issued any Orders restricting the amount which soldiers who receive a money payment in lieu of rations may purchase in a military canteen below the amount which they would receive were they on rations instead of receiving the money payment?
      The UNDERSECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson): A soldier receiving a money payment in lieu of rations can spend the money as he likes, and no restrictions have been placed by the War Office on purchases in canteens, except that, in the interest of food economy, the buying of ham or bacon for the provision of sandwiches is prohibited.
      Sir H. CRAIK: Then if there is a restriction in the amount of bread that is permitted to be sold to soldiers that is not done with the consent of the War Office or by the Order of the War Office?
      Mr. MACPHERSON: I cannot say that, because this is not particularly in my Department. My recollection is, however, that there is some restriction placed upon the soldier so far as private sales are concerned.
      Sir H. CRAIK: But not below the rations?
      Mr. MACPHERSON: Not below the rations.

      RHUBABB.
      Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the quantity of rhubarb that is going to waste throughout the country; and, if so,

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      whether any steps are being taken to induce people to preserve such, and to provide them with sugar for the purpose?
      Mr. BRIDGEMAN: Sugar for jam making is being provided in as large a quantity as possible, but the amount available will be insufficient to meet all demands for that purpose. It is, important, therefore, that those who have rhubarb should, so far as possible, adopt methods of preservation which do not involve the use of sugar. The Ministry of Food and the Board of Agriculture have made suggestions as to such methods.
      Mr. WATT: Would it not be wise to lay this suggestion before the public? I do do not think the public are aware of it.
      Mr. BRIDGEMAN: I will convey that suggestion to the Ministry of Food.

      GRASS LANO (PLOUGHING).
      Mr. WATTasked the Secretary for Scotland how soon the actual demand for the ploughing of grass land will be made upon the farmers of the country so as to justify their application for the actual amount of labour, manure, and equipment which has been promised to them?
      The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro): The Agricultural Executive Committee in Scotland have been informed by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland as to the area in each county which must be broken up from grass land. A survey to ascertain the quota of each farm is now in progress. It will be completed shortly and communicated to the farmers.

      DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES.
      Mr. M ACM ASTERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the line of demarkation between the respective duties of the President of the Board of Agriculture and the Food Controller so as to make it perfectly clear that the President of the Board of Agriculture, as a member of the Government, is alone responsible for the home productions of agricultural or other products to the extent required by national necessities, and that the function of the Food Controller, as a member of the Government, is the distribution of home productions and imported supplies, and the fixing of prices thereof when necessary?
      The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave): By the Act appointing him (6 and 7
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      George V., cap. 68) the Food Controller is the Minister responsible for maintaining a proper supply of food, and is authorised to take such steps as he thinks best for encouraging the production of food. Almost immediately after his appointment Lord Devonport arranged with the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Secretary for Scotland, and the Chief Secretary for Ireland that the duty of stimulating food production in the three countries should be undertaken by them, and that whenever the Food Controller deemed it necessary to take action, either to stimulate supplies or to protect the interests of the consumers, he would confer with his colleagues of the Agricultural Departments.

  PRISONERS OF WAR (EXCHANGE).
  Mr. MACMASTERasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if he can now state the terms arranged between the French and German Governments in regard to the mutual exchange of prisoners of war and interned persons; and whether like terms have been obtained by our Government?
  Mr. J. HOPE (Lord of the Treasury): The agreement referred to is extremely complicated, and it is not possible within reasonable limits to give a detailed resume of its provisions. Subject to the approval of the French Government, it is proposed to publish the agreement in full. I may, however, state that officers and civilians are not included in its scope, nor are those men who have been interned for over eighteen months unless they are suffering from nervous affection caused by lengthy imprisonment. I have already frequently explained the terms of our proposals to the German Government, but regret to say that no direct or satisfactory reply has yet been received.
  Mr. MACMASTER: When will the agreement be published?
  Mr. HOPE: I think immediately.

  GENERAL POST OFFICE, DUBLIN (REBUILDING).
  Mr. BYRNEasked the Postmaster-General when the General Post Office in Dublin will be rebuilt; and if he will state the cause of the delay?
  The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pease): No definite steps have been taken at present in the way of actual rebuilding. I contemplate rearrangement, if possible, of some of the Post Office Departments in Dublin, which are now housed in various parts of the city, and the question, which is somewhat complicated, requires much consideration. I may say that, before the fire, the Post Office accommodation in Dublin, and the possibility of improving it, was before my predecessors more than once, but the difficulties in the way of a satisfactory settlement were then insuperable.

  DEPORTATIONS FROM IRELAND.
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is now in a position to announce the release from restriction of all those deported from Ireland without charge or trial or restricted to specified areas; what are the intentions of the Government with reference to deportees who have not stayed in the areas to which they were restricted; and whether the general amnesty of political prisoners extends to all in prison for offences purely political, such as Peter O'Keeffe and Tadg Barry, of Cork?
  The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke): As to the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on Monday. The two persons mentioned in the concluding part of the question were not imprisoned for complicity in the rebellion.
  Mr. GINNELL: May I ask whether this serious and moderate request will be reconsidered favourably by the Government?
  Mr. DUKE: I cannot add anything to what I have told the hon. Gentleman.
  Mr. GINNELL: Does the Government expect that that callous refusal will help the coining Convention?

  SOLDIERS' LEAVE.
  Mr. BYRNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there are Irish soldiers serving in His Majesty's Forces who have not received
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  one day's leave since the outbreak of War; who is responsible; and will he see that leave is granted immediately?
  Mr. MACPHERSON: I assume that the hon. Gentleman refers to men serving overseas. I would refer him to the answer gives, on the 19th instant to my lion. Friend the Member for Merthyr.
  Mr. BYRNE: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the truthfulness of the statement in this question cannot be denied, namely, that there are men at the front who have been there since the outbreak of the War and have not yet received any leave?
  Mr. MACPHERSON: I think that is very likely true, and I am sorry to hear it. As I pointed out in my answer to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil, the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief has been doing his level best for a long time to allow every man to have leave. Of course, the determining factor is the exigencies of the Service.

  MILITARY SERVICE.

    IRISH MIGUATOHY LABOUREBS.
    Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister why the recruiting authorities are allowed to disregard the law and repeated promises of successive Governments exempting Irish migratory labourers from compulsory military service; and whether he will have the Order immediately cancelled which calls up for the Army a Mayo migratory labourer named P. O'Brien, described as Class No. 9, number in military register 514, who worked some weeks as a farm labourer in England in 1916, and some weeks at munition works in 1917, who is now at Huddersfield; whose home is in county Mayo, where his parents are, both old and dependent on him, one of them an invalid; and who has never in a way forfeited his right of exemption as an Irishman?
    Mr. MACPHERSON: Inquiries are being made into the facts of this case, and, pending a report from the recruiting officer concerned, the calling-up notice of this man has been cancelled. The result of the inquiries will be communicated to the hon. Member when they are received.

    GRETNA WORKMEN.
    Mr. T. WILSON(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for

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    War whether he has received a request from the Gretna Workmen's Committee to meet them in conference to discuss certain matters in connection with the administration of the Military Service Acts, and whether he proposes to grant the request?
    Mr. MACPHERSON: I have not received a request from the Gretna Workmen's Committee to meet them in conference, but I should be very happy to receive a deputation from them if my hon. Friend would try and fix a date and give me beforehand particulars of the special requests which are made.
    Mr. WILSON: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his reply. As the Munitions Department is not represented here just now, may I ask him to discuss this with the Minister of Munitions, and see if he can arrange with his right hon. Friend to meet them at the same time?
    Mr. MACPHERSON: Certainly!

  ENEMY AIR RAIDS.
  Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered any scheme for dealing with those who have been disabled as a result of injuries arising out of air raids and the dependants who have been left helpless as a result of the death of the bread winner; and when a statement of policy may be expected?
  Sir G. CAVE: As the hon. Member was informed on the 19th instant, the matter is "being looked into, but it is not yet possible to give any precise date on which a statement of policy can be made.

  GERMAN TITLES AND SURNAMES.
  Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether legislation is necessary to enable German gentlemen of title who have become naturalised to convert their German titles into English titles; if so, whether the privilege will be extended so as to allow free interchange of surnames in the cases of Germans well disposed to this country; and whether, if it be found that the principle would apply in the case of any Germans now interned, they will be restored to liberty?
  Sir G. CAVE: The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; other parts, therefore, do not arise.
  Mr. LYNCH: Why should these great privileges be reserved for one branch of the community and not extended to others, if they are in the public interest?

  ROYAL PROCLAMATIONS.
  Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether, in regard to the use of the phrase "My Empire" in Royal Proclamations, he has ever consulted the Dominions as to the propriety of the term; and, if not, whether he will now do so?
  Sir G. CAVE: The answer to both parts of the question is still in the negative.
  Mr. LYNCH: That puts a necessary weapon in my hands.

  IRISH CONVENTION.
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that no person has a right to attend the proposed Convention in Ireland, will he say who confers that right?
  Sir G. CAVE: His Majesty's Government.
  Mr. GINNELL: Then it is not the Irish people?
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether, to test constitutionally what the Irish people think of the pro posed Convention, the Government will allow any member of it, or any person invited by them to become a member of it, to become a candidate for the representation of East Clare, now vacant, and let the calling or abandonment of the Convention be determined by the result?
  Sir G. CAVE: The answer is in the negative.
  Mr. GINNELL: This question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Is the Government aware now of what the people of Ireland mean by a constitutional test of the forthcoming Convention, and are they prepared to take up this challenge?
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have observed that the arguments already being used by both sets of belligerent Powers against carrying out their common promises to re-establish the independence of small nations are absence of natural

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  territorial delimitation and want of free access to the sea, neither of which objections exist in the case of Ireland; and whether, in order to create the favourable atmosphere essential to the success of a Convention chosen by the Government, he has considered the comparative merits of first proclaiming Ireland's independence or awaiting the compulsion of events?
  Sir G. CAVE: The answer is in the negative.

  HOUSE OF LORDS (PROPOSEDCONFERENCE).
  Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken towards a Conference to secure agreement on the question of the future constitution and powers of the House of Lords?
  Sir G. CAVE: As my right hon. Friend stated yesterday, it is not yet possible to make a statement on this subject.

  SOUTH AFRICA.
  Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give any information on the spread of republicanism in South Africa which has called forth the action of Mr. Merriman in moving a Resolution in the House of Assembly, Cape Town, to combat the propaganda?
  The JOINT FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin): No, Sir!
  Mr. LYNCH: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have set up a beacon to guide men for a thousand years?

  MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICERS (TREATMENT AS PRISONERS).
  Mr. STEWART(by Private Notice), on behalf of the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Peto), asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that officers of British merchant ships taken prisoners by German submarines are sent to officers' internment camps at Germany and Austria; whether negotiations have been proceeding between the German and British Governments with regard to their pay and the advance made to these officers by the German Govern-
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  ment for the expense of their food; whether they are now being removed to men's camps on account of the British Government not having assumed responsibility for their maintenance in officers' camps, and whether he will make the necessary arrangements to prevent this additional hardship being imposed upon them?
  Mr. HOPE: I very much regret indeed that I have not been able to obtain from the authorities concerned the information which it is necessary to obtain in order to answer this question. I think my hon. Friend will believe that I am just as much annoyed over this fact as he would be.
  Mr. STEWART: Could the Government not arrange for the money to be paid and put into a suspense account, and arrange later on as to the liability since the-amount is relatively very small?
  Mr. HOPE: I must look into the matter before I can give an answer, which I hope to do on Monday.

  Medical Officers (Ireland).
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board is keeping a record of preventible deaths due to the absence or remoteness of a medical officer in those places throughout Ireland in which the guardians of the poor have appointed such officers and the Local Government Board withholds its necessary sanction; and, if the opinion of the Law Officers en the legality of the Board's conduct producing such results has been obtained, will he say what it is?
  Mr. DUKE: The Local Government Board have not received information of any preventible disease due to the absence or remoteness of medical officers in places where the guardians of the poor have appointed such officers, and the Board has withheld its sanction. If any such cases were notified they would be officially recorded. I am told the legality of the Board's action is likely to be the subject of judicial decision.
  Mr. GINNELL: The question does not ask about diseases but about sudden deaths.
  Mr. DUKE: The hon. Member may take it that there is no record of any such deaths, and if they had been notified they would have been recorded.

  Rebellion in Ireland.
  Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, now that satisfaction has been brought to the Irish people, and relief to the relatives, by the release from prison of some who took part in the insurrection of 1916, and that no such reparation can be made in the cases of those who were executed, whether the only possible proof of the end of vindictiveness will now be given by allowing the remains of the latter to be transferred from the places in which they are buried to consecrated ground.
  Mr. DUKE: The hon. Member's proposal cannot at present be acceded to

ORDERS OF THE DAY.
  MILITARY SERVICE (CONVENTIONS WITH ALLIED STATES) BILL.
  As Amended, considered.
  MILITARY SERVICE (CONVENTIONS WITH ALLIED STATES) BILL.

    CLAUSE 1.—(Carrying Out of Mutual Arrangements with Allied Countries as to Military Service Obligations.)
    His Majesty may by Order in Council, signifying that he has made a convention with a foreign country, Allied or otherwise, acting in naval or military cooperation with His Majesty in the present War (in this Act referred to as the contracting country) which imposes a mutual liability to military service on British subjects in that country and on subjects of that country in the United Kingdom, direct that this Act shall have effect with respect to the contracting country and the subjects of that country, provided that no British subject in the contracting country shall be brought, under the operation of such a convention without being allowed the option of offering to return to this country; and on any such Order in Council being made, this Act shall have effect accordingly, but no such Order in Council shall be made until such convention has lain upon the Table of the House of Commons for thirty days.
    Amendment made: Leave out the words "provided that no British subject in the contracting country shall be brought under the operation of such a convention without being allowed the option of offering to return to this country."
    The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson): I beg to move to leave out the words "but no such Order in Council shall be made until such Convention has lain upon the Table of the House of Commons for thirty days," and insert instead thereof the words,
    "Provided that—

    (a) no such Order in Council shall be made unless the Convention secures to His Majesty's Ambassador or other public Minister in the contracting country power to grant to British subjects in that country exemption from military service, and such Ambassador or Minister shall grant such exemption in any case where a British subject proves that he is not
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    domiciled in the contracting country, and that before proceeding to the contracting country he was ordinarily resident in some part of His Majesty's, Dominions other than Great Britain;

    (b) no such Order in Council shall be made unless the Convention contains provisions to the effect that British subjects in the contracting country and subjects of the contracting country in the United Kingdom shall, before becoming liable to military service, have an opportunity, if they make an application for the purpose, of returning to the United Kingdom or the contracting country, as the case may be;

    (c) an Order in Council shall not be made until the expiration of thirty days from the date when the Convention has been laid before Parliament."

    Mr. E. HARVEY: with regard to paragraph (a) is there any danger that the wording will be understood to imply that the Ambassador has only power to grant exemption in the case of people not regularly domiciled in the allied country, and if he is satisfied is he not to have power to grant exemption in certain other cases? I hope it will be made quite clear that the Ambassador may grant exemption in every case in which he thinks a person is entitled to it.
    Mr. MACPHERSON: Yes; I think so. Amendment agreed to.

    CLAUSE 2.—(Application of Military Service Acts.)
    (1) Where this Act is so applied with respect to any country, the subjects of that country shall be liable to military service under the Military Service Acts, 1916, in the same manner as British subjects: and those Acts shall apply accordingly; subject to the following modifications:—

    (a) The appointed date shall, as respects subjects of the contracting country who come within the operation of the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, on the application of this Act in respect of that country, be the thirtieth day after the date on which the Convention is laid on the Table of the House of Commons applying the Act, and as respects subjects of the contracting country who come within the operation of the Military Service Acts, 1916 and

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    1917, after that date, be the thirtieth day after the date on which they so come within the operation of those Acts:

    (b) A subject of the contracting country shall have the same rights with regard to exemptions and exceptions conferred by the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, as he would have if he were a British subject, and shall be deemed to be within the exceptions under the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, if he is the holder of a certificate of exemption for the time being in force granted by the Ambassador or a duly authorised public Minister of that country in the United Kingdom:

    (c) Any British subject arriving in Great Britain from the contracting country after the date of an Order in Council applying this Act to the subjects of that contracting country shall, if not ordinarily resident in Great Britain, be deemed for the purposes of the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, to be ordinarily resident in Great Britain as from the date of his arrival, unless he shows that the part of His Majesty's Dominions in which he last resided was some part other than Great Britain.

    (2) For the purposes of the limitation on the number of aliens who may serve together at any one time in any corps of the Regular Forces imposed by Section ninety-five of the Army Act, subjects of a contracting country who become liable to military service by virtue of the application of this Act in respect of their country shall not be reckoned in that number.
    Amendments made: In Sub-section (1), leave out the word "the" ["the subjects"]; after the word "shall" ["shall be liable"] insert the words "if they have not, within twenty-one days after the convention has been laid before Parliament, made an application in such manner as may be prescribed by a Secretary of State to return to the contracting country or if, having made such an application, they have failed to avail themselves of an opportunity to do so."
    In Sub-section (1) (a) leave out the words "on which the Convention is laid on the Table of the House of Commons," and insert instead thereof the words "of the
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    Order in Council"; at the end of Subsection (1) (a) insert the words" except that when such subjects come within the operations of those Acts by reason of their failing to avail themselves of an opportunity of returning to the contracting country the appointed date shall be the date of such failure."
    In paragraph (b), after the word "country" ["subject of the contracting country"], insert the words "who has not made such an application as aforesaid to return to that country."
    After "1917" ["1917, as he would have"] insert the words "other than the exceptions mentioned in paragraph (1) of the First Schedule to the first-mentioned Act."
    After the word "and" ["and shall be deemed to be"] insert the words "whether he has made such an application or not."
    After paragraph (b) insert the words,
    "(c) Regulations issued under the Military Service Acts, 1916 and 1917, may provide for the establishment of special tribunals for dealing with applications or appeals for exemption in respect of men who are rendered liable to military service by virtue of this Act and for the appointment of additional members to tribunals when dealing with such applications or appeals."—[Mr. Macpherson.]
    Bill read the third time, and passed.

  COMPANIES (PARTICULARS AS TO DIRECTORS) BILL.
  Considered in Committee.
  [Mr. MACLEAN in the Chair.]

  CLAUSE 1.—(Obligation of Companies to Disclose Particulars Respecting Directors.)
  In addition to the particulars with respect to the persons who are the directors, or occupy the position of directors, which by Section twenty-six of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, are required to be included in the annual summary, there shall be included such particulars with respect to those persons as would, if they were partners in a firm, be required to be registered with respect to them under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, and the register required to be kept by a company under Section seventy-five of the Companies

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  (Consolidation) Act, 1908, shall include such particulars as aforesaid, and the obligation of the company under that Section from time to time to notify to the registrar any change among its directors shall include an obligation so to notify any change in any such particulars.
  The SOLICITOR - GENERAL (Sir Gordon Hewart): I beg to move, after the word "summary" ["annual summary"], to insert the words "or in the case of a company incorporated outside the United Kingdom which has established a place of business within the United Kingdom are, by Section two hundred and seventy-four of that Act, required to be included amongst the particulars to be filed with the Registrar of Companies."
  The object of this Amendment is to extend the obligation to disclose particulars as to directors to companies incorporated outside the United Kingdom. If the Bill is not made to apply to companies incorporated outside the United Kingdom, there is obviously some risk that companies might be registered in Guernsey, or elsewhere, by persons seeking to evade the disclosure required by the Registration of Business Names Act, and by this Bill.
  Amendment agreed to.
  Further Amendments made: Leave out the words "if they were partners in a firm."
  Leave out the word "registered" t" required to be registered "], and insert instead thereof the word "furnished."— [Sir G. Hewart.]
  Sir G. HEWART: I beg to move, after "1916," to insert the words "if they were partners in a firm required to be registered under that Act."
  Mr. WATT: Might we have some explanation of this particular Amendment?
  Sir G. HEWART: This, with one or two others, is merely a drafting Amendment. The effect is simply to make it clear that the reference to partners in a firm is confined to partners in a firm required to be registered under the Registration of Business Names Act. As hon. Members are aware, no registration under that Act is required of a firm which, without any addition, includes the names of all the partners.
  Amendment agreed to.
  Further Amendment made: After the word "Section" ["Section from time to
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  time"] insert the words "or in the case of a company incorporated outside the United Kingdom under Section two hundred and seventy-four of the said Act."— [Sir G. Hewart]
  Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

  CLAUSE 2.— (Additional Obligations of Companies.)
  (1) Every company which has been registered between the passing of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, and the passing of this Act shall, within one month after the passing of this Act, and every company registered after the passing of this Act shall, within one month of the registration of the company, send to the Registrar of Companies such particulars respecting the directors of the company and the persons who since the registration of the company have been directors of the company as, if such directors and persons were partners in a firm, would be required to be furnished with respect to such partners under the Registration of Business Names. Act, 1916, and if default is made in compliance with this Section, the company shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds for every day during which the default continues, and every director, secretary, and officer of the company who is knowingly a party to the default shall be guilty of a like offence and liable to a like penalty.
  (2) Sections eighteen and nineteen of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, with respect to the publication in trade catalogues, trade circulars, show cards, and business letters of certain particulars, shall after the expiration of three months from the passing of this Act apply to every company which has been registered since the passing of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, or which may after the passing of this Act be registered, as if the directors of the company were partners in such a firm:
  Provided that if the name of the company sufficiently discloses the nature of the business carried on by the company, or the identity of the directors, the Board of Trade may by Order grant, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the Order, exemption from the obligations imposed by this Section, unless any special circumstances exist which render it in the opinion of the Board inexpedient that such an exemption should be granted.
  Amendments made: In Sub-section (1), leave out the words "passing of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916," and insert "twenty-second day of November, nineteen hundred and sixteen."
  After the word "Act" ["this Act shall, within one month"] insert the words "and every company incorporated outside the United Kingdom which has before the passing of this Act established a place of business within the United Kingdom."
  After the word "companies" ["Registrar of Companies"] insert the words "in such form as may be prescribed by the Board of Trade."
  After the word "and" ["and the persons who"] insert the words "except in the case of a company incorporated outside the United Kingdom respecting."
  Leave out the words "if such directors and persons were partners in a firm."
  Leave out the words "such partners," and insert instead thereof the word "them."
  After "1916" ["1916, and if default"] insert the words "if they were partners in a firm required to be registered under that Act."
  In Sub-section (2), after the word "registered" ["registered since the passing"], insert the words "or in the case of a company incorporated outside the United Kingdom which has established a place of business within the United Kingdom."
  Leave out the words "passing of the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916," and insert instead thereof the words "the said twenty-second day of November."
  After the word "registered" ["registered as if the directors"] insert the words "or establish a place of business within the United Kingdom."
  Leave out the word "such" ["such a firm"].
  After the word "firm" ["such a firm"] insert the words "required to be registered under the first - mentioned Act"—[Sir G. Hewart.]
  Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

  CLAUSE 3.—(Meaning of Director.)
  For the purposes of this Act and of Sections twenty-six and seventy-five of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908,
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  as amended by this Act, the expression "director" shall include any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of a company are accustomed to act.
  Amendment made: Leave out the words "and seventy-five," and insert instead thereof the words "seventy-five and two hundred and seventy-four."—[Sir G. Hewart.]
  Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
  CLAUSE 4 (Short Title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.
  Bill reported; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.

  CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTORS (WAR SERVICE—SCOTLAND) BILL.
  Order for Second Reading read.
  The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro): I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
  This small Bill is purely a war measure, which is designed to deal with difficulties which have arisen in the administration of the estates of soldiers who have been reported missing, and who are presumed to be dead. In Scotland, before anyone can deal as executor with the estates of deceased persons, he has to go to the Court and obtain what is termed confirmation, and that confirmation is only granted, according to the existing law, after distinct and definite proof of the evidence of the death of the person whose estate is concerned. A little difficulty has been experienced in regard to the estates of soldiers who have been reported missing. Although these soldiers have been reported missing, and presumed to be dead for official purposes, some judges under the law as it now stands have refused confirmation on the ground that they have no power to grant it. It is obvious that results in great inconvenience, and often in great hardship, because estates are held up indefinitely, and it is impossible to distribute the assets. In these circumstances, the Bill provides that, where a certificate is issued by the War Office or by the Admiralty that a soldier is presumed to be dead for official purposes, an applicant for confirmation of the Scottish Courts will merely have to swear that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the

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  person referred to is dead. There are certain safeguards which are provided both by way of information to the War Office and the Admiralty, and certain safeguards with regard to time which render it, I think, impossible, or exceedingly unlikely, that there should be any presumption of the death of a person who, in point of fact, is not dead. I will only add that the Bill has the approval of all the judges who are concerned in the matter in Scotland, and has also the support of the War Office and the Admiralty. In, point of fact, its effect will be to secure in Scotland the same result which has been achieved in England by means of directions issued by the President of the Probate and Divorce Court. We have no corresponding procedure to that in Scotland, and it has been necessary to introduce this measure for the purpose of bringing about the same method, and I would respectfully ask the House now to give the Bill a Second Reading.
  Mr. WATT: I think the right hon. Gentleman is entitled to the thanks of the people of Scotland for bringing in the Bill. It is much called for, and will simplify and expedite the work of the executors of estates of soldiers and sailors who have met their death in the War. But with regard to the expediting of the confirmation, T think he might have made it a little more drastic than he has. In Sub-section (1) it is provided that, between the date of the death and the date of presenting the petition, not less than twelve months must elapse, or, in the alternative, between the date when the certificate has been issued and the date of presenting the petition, the period must not be less than six months. I venture to think that that is wrong, and that the right hon. Gentleman, in dealing with this matter, might have shortened these dates. Perhaps he will take that into consideration between now and the Committee stage. Another point in connection with this measure is that on the presentation of this petition, which bears a certificate from the Admiralty or the War Office, the sheriff, who is the judge in Scotland, has thereupon to order intimation to the Admiralty or Army Council—that is to say, a certificate coming from the Admiralty or the War Office has again to be intimated by the judge to the Department which has issued the certificate. I cannot see the advantage of that. It almost goes without saying that when the certificates are
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  issued by those Departments they will be utilised, and the necessity of the sheriffs intimating back seems to be undesirable. Another thing to which I object in this measure—and my observations now may prevent Amendments being put down in Committee—is the proposal for prescribing the fees necessary for carrying the purposes of the Act into effect. This is to be done by the Court of Session by Act of Sederunt. I think the Court of Session are not the best body to arrange fees in this matter. The fees must be very low, and the Court of Session consists of men who are themselves in receipt of very large salaries, £6,000 a year, and they are not content with that, but, I believe, they can go outside and get salaries as directors.
  Mr. SPEAKER: The hon. Member is not in order in pursuing that.
  Mr. WATT: I submit that these members of the Court of Session are not the best men to arrange fees in a matter of this sort. The fees, I hope, will not be more than 5s., 2s. 6d., or so on, for various services. It is a matter of a very small amount, and I consider that the members of the Court of Session, who deal with large figures, are not the best body to arrange the fees to be charged, if my right hon. Friend will appoint some other body to whom he will delegate this duty of fixing the fees, I have no doubt that it will be an improvement on the measure. If he does so, the time occupied in Committee will be shortened. I finish, as I began, by thanking the right hon. Gentleman for bringing in this Bill.
  Sir CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON: I think the Secretary for Scotland has dons well to introduce this measure. I was cognisant of several cases in which doubt was entertained as to whether confirmation would be granted in the circumstances dealt with by this Bill, and this undoubtedly meets the difficulty. I sympathise with the hon. Member who has just spoken in the view that the Bill is certainly extremely cautious, but I have no doubt that the right hon. Gentleman has been guided by certain of my former colleagues and sheriffs who are concerned in being cautious. But there is one suggestion I would venture to make, and that is that this extreme caution was not observed in some sheriffs' Courts, and confirmations were issued as soon as these certificates were granted by the Admiralty and by the War Office that the man was presumed to have died. This might suggest

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  some doubt and anxiety in the case of those who have got confirmation under circumstances which is not granted under this Bill, and I think this difficulty might be obviated by inserting the words "nothing contained in this Act shall affect the validity of any confirmation already issued." That may not be necessary, but I think it would be useful in removing the doubt and some possible anxiety.
  Mr. MUNRO: I am very much obliged to the lion. Member for the College Division of Glasgow (Mr. Watt) for the kindly way in which he has referred to this Bill, but I would ask him to consider carefully whether it is really worth while to press the point he has raised. In view of one or two considerations I am extremely anxious to get the other stages of tins Bill, for now there is an opportunity which may not readily recur in these crowded days. As it seems to be admitted that this Bill is very desirable and useful, I appeal to my lion. Friends to co-operate with me in securing the other stages to-day. My lion, and learned Friend the Member for the College Division referred to certain safeguards at the end of the Clause, and he indicated that he thought in one case the time was too lengthy. In a Bill of this sort it is necessary to provide all safeguards against improper or precipitate action. It would be an extremely unfortunate thing if after an estate were divided it turned out that the person who had the best right to it was not in point of fact dead. Therefore we have to proceed with great caution, and I assure my hon. Friend that the point he has put has been considered by myself and the Lord Advocate, in conjunction with our advisers, and, in view of the advice we got, we thought proper to use both these safeguards in order to prevent abuse occurring under the Bill. Under these circumstances I urge my hon. Friends not to press their objections. With regard to the point raised about the fees to be provided under this Bill, they will be extremely moderate, and I know no other body to fix the fees other than the Court of Session. I think it is entirely in accordance with practice and precedent that they should fix fees under a Bill of this kind. The hon. and learned Member did not make any other suggestion, and under these circumstances I ask him not to press that point. With regard to the suggestion that a provision should
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  be inserted to provide that nothing in this Bill should affect the competency of any confirmation granted before this measure was introduced, I do not think that that is in the least necessary, and I do not think there is anything in this Bill that would in any way invalidate such cases. As these are the only objections taken, and as I contend that the provisions of the Bill meet them, I earnestly appeal to my hon. and learned Friend not to insist upon those objections, and to allow me to have the other stages of the Bill.
  Mr. PRINGLE: I am sure the Scottish Members present will be glad to respond to the appeal of the Secretary for Scotland that this Bill should go through all its stages, but before parting with this Order there is a question I wish to address to the Patronage Secretary. As we have agreed to pass every stage of this Bill, perhaps the Noble Lord will inform us how many other Orders the Government intend to take to-day?
  Lord EDMUND TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury): We propose taking the next Order (the Committee stage of Navy Excess, 1915–16 Vote) and the last Order (Representation of the People Expenses—Committee).
  Mr. PRINGLE: I wish to say that I think it is somewhat unfair to take those Orders when hon. Members who may be interested have not had notice that Orders of this importance were going to be taken. I make this protest in view of what was done on Friday last on the Report stage of the Corn Production Expenses Resolution, which was closured.
  Sir F. BANBURY: Personally, I do not think the Report stage of this Resolution is very important, but the Committee stage is, and in view of the fact that the business has gone through very quickly and there are few Members present, I would appeal to my Noble Friend not to press the taking of the last Order.
  Lord E. TALBOT: Very well, we will not take it.
  Question put, and agreed to.
  Bill read a second time.
  Resolved, That this House will immediately resolve itself into the Committee on the Bill.—[Lord E. Talbot.]
  Bill accordingly considered in Committee, and reported, without Amendment; read the third lime, and passed.

  SUPPLY.
  Considered in Committee.
  [Mr. MACLEAN in the Chair.]
  NAVY (EXCESS), 1915–16.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That a sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to His Majesty, to make good Excesses of Navy Expenditure beyond the Grants, for the year ended on the 31st day of March, 1916."
  The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara): I think it due to the Committee that I should shortly explain this Excess Vote asked for. We are dealing with appropriations of moneys placed at our disposal by the Estimates (Annual and Supplementary) of the year 1915–16. The House will remember that since the financial year 1914–15, when Parliament sanctioned the Navy Estimates in the usual way, the Navy Estimates for subsequent years had been prepared on Token Votes in accordance with the Treasury Minute of the 5th of February, 1915. For 1915–16, under this Token Vote system, the amount placed at our disposal was £1,000 Parliamentary Vote and £100 Appropriation-in-Aid under each of the seventeen Navy Votes— that is to say, £17,000 and £1,700, making a total of £18,700. By the Supplementary Estimate presented on 21st February, 1916, a further sum of £10 was voted, plus £4,500,000 estimated substantive Appropriations-in-Aid, and that was made available by that Token Vote. Therefore, down to the 21st February, 1916, the total spending power of the Admiralty for the year 1915–16, so far as Navy Votes was concerned, was £4,518,710. For the rest, we drew upon the Vote of Credit. The Appropriation Account of all our expenditure for the year has been submitted to the Controller and Auditor-General. We have not in the national interest submitted the usual full and detailed publication of the Appropriation Account, but we have submitted a summarised form, and we keep an account of a more detailed character, giving the whole of the detailed explanation, and it can be published as and when the public interest permits. This summarised account was ordered by the House to be printed on 1st March. Our officers have been examined upon it before the Public Accounts; Committee, and that Committee will report to the House upon it later this year.
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  That Appropriation Account shows that in 1915–16 we actually expended a gross sum of £211,421,914 3s. 3d. If I deduct from that the sum to which I have already referred, and which is at our disposal by the original and Supplementary Estimates namely, £4,518,710, there remains an excess of £206,903,204 3s. 3d. which has to be met out of issues from the Vo£e of Credit and out of Appropriations-in-Aid. We have met it so far out of Votes of Credit to the extent of £205,716,588 17s. 7d., leaving an amount of £1,186,617 5s. 8d. to be met out of Appropriations-in-Aid. As a matter of fact, the realised Appropriations-in-Aid were £5,688,317 5s. 8d. We could have surrendered the additional £1,186,617 5s. 8d. to the Treasury, but that would simply have meant that the amount of the Vote of Credit applied to Navy purposes would have been pro tanto increased. We have retained it, and we have used it to balance a corresponding excess in expenditure, and we now come to Parliament in the usual way to obtain sanction for the regularisation of the application of an Appropriation-in-Aid beyond the amount allowed in the Estimates. Therefore, the excess of expenditure which the House is now asked to sanction in Committee will meet the matter in the following way: By the application of excess receipts to the extent of £1,186,607 5s. 8d., and by the grant of a sum of £10, giving the total of £1,186,617 5s. 8d. I have only one other thing to say. The total Appropriations-in-Aid for this year 1915–16 is much larger than any of those estimated for in pre-war times:, which ran in the region of £2,000,000, but it is due to the fact that we have received considerable repayments from foreign Governments for supplies of fuel and naval stores, which income did not arise in the days before the War.
  Mr. WATT: I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for making this matter so clear.
  Mr. ROCH: I should also like to thank the right hon. Gentleman for the clear statement which he has made. I think he has rendered good service, because he has shown to the critics that the House of Commons has not lost complete control over finance in the great spending Departments.
  Mr. DENMAN: I trust that on future occasions the House will be put in possession of the Report of the Public

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  Accounts Committee before such Estimates are presented to the House, so that if there be any occasion for criticism that criticism may be formed and give some knowledge. I should like to ask whether the figures include any sum that may have been paid by the Government under their insurance scheme for shipping? Does that sum appear on the Votes for the Admiralty or on those for the Board of Trade?
  Dr. MACNAMARA: Of course, this will come up again when the Public Accounts Committee has reported to this House on the Navy Estimates.
  Mr. DENMAN: But meanwhile the expenditure is sanctioned.
  Dr. MACNAMARA: We get authority for having used Appropriations-in-Aid to the extent of £1,186,617 5s. 8d., but the whole account has been subject to the examination of the Public Accounts Committee, which will report later in the year on the gross expenditure of £211,421,914 3s. 3d., which will include this sum, only by this Vote it will come from Appropriations-in-Aid and not from
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  the Vote of Credit. What we are doing to-day has to be done with the authority of the Public Accounts Committee and in accordance with precedent.
  Mr. DENMAN: Does this include the sum payable under the insurance scheme for vessels lost?
  Dr. MACNAMARA: I should like to look into that. If it were a maritime question, clearly it would be the Board of Trade, but whether it will be borne by the Navy Votes or not I should not like to say offhand.
  Question put, and agreed to.
  Resolution to be reported upon Monday next; Committee to sit again upon Monday next.
  The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.
  Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 3.
  Adjourned at Five Minutes after One o'clock till Monday next.

WAR.
  CIVIL SERVANTS (WAR BONUS).
  CIVIL SERVANTS (WAR BONUS).
MILITARY SERVICE.
  MALDEN CAMP (COURT-MARTIAII).
  MALDEN CAMP (COURT-MARTIAII).
  CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.
  CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.
  LABOUR BATTALIONS (DUNKIRK).
  LABOUR BATTALIONS (DUNKIRK).
  B.A.M.C. (TRANSFER).
  B.A.M.C. (TRANSFER).
  EXEMPTION WITHDRAWN.
  EXEMPTION WITHDRAWN.
  MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR (GLASGOW).
  MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR (GLASGOW).
  NAVAL AND MILITARY PENSIONS AND GRANTS.
  NAVAL AND MILITARY PENSIONS AND GRANTS.