E. Jersey, E. had taken place, and from the speech of | Harrowby, E. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY said, that was quite a mistake. THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY said, the noble Earl was himself in America at the time; but he believed that he won a race at Kingsbury with a horse named Halifax. his THE EARL OF ROSEBERY said, noble Friend was misinformed. THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY said, the real point at issue was whether the meetings proposed to be dealt with under the Bill could be controlled by the Stewards of the Jockey Club, and he could not doubt they would be. THE MARQUESS OF RIPON observed, that the noble Duke opposite had said the Jockey Club were anxious to carry out what the Home Secretary desired in the matter. What the Home Secretary desired was that the Bill should pass. VISCOUNT ENFIELD said, that after the tone of the debate and the amount of support offered to the Bill, he preferred not accepting any vague promises on behalf of the racing authorities, but should go to a Division, and any Amendments might then be considered in Committee. On Question, That ("now") stand part of the Motion? Their Lordships divided:-Contents 84; Not-Contents 57: Majority 27. CONTENTS. Canterbury, L. Archp. Cairns, E. (L. Chan cellor.) York, L. Archp. Cardwell, V. Gordon, V. (E. Aber- Lovel and Holland, L. deen) Hardinge, V. Powerscourt, V. London, L. Bp. Aberdare, L. (E. Egmont.) Monck, L. (V. Monck.) Ponsonby, L. (E. Bessborough.) Balfour of Burleigh, L. Robartes, L. (E. Cork Belper, L. L. Brougham and Vaux, Carysfort, L. (E. Carys- Charlemont, L. (E. Sefton, L. (E. Sefton.) Stanley of Alderley, L, Strafford, L. (V. En- Airlie, E. Saint Germans, E. Amherst, E. Selkirk, E. Annesley, E. Stanhope, E. Beauchamp, E. Belmore, E. horn, E. Bedford, D. Brownlow, E. Wilton, E. Grafton, D. Somerset, D. Camperdown, E. Zetland, E. Westminster, D. Cowper, E. De La Warr, E. Hawarden, V. Ailesbury, M. Derby, E. Strathallan, V. Lansdowne, M. Ripon, M. Ribblesdale, L. Romilly, L. Rosebery, L. (E. Rosebery.) ADDRESS FOR A RETURN. THE EARL OF GALLOWAY moved"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for a Return showing for what number of troops the barracks at each Brigade Depôt Centre' throughout the United Kingdom are at present constructed or in course of construction." The noble Earl said, he understood in 1871 or 1872, that when the brigade depôt centres was adopted the barracks in connection with them were to hold something like 600 men. were VISCOUNT BURY said, his noble Friend was mistaken in supposing that the brigade depôt centre barracks ever intended to accommodate 600 men. The original intention was that the barracks at each centre should hold 100 men, and that in case more accommodation was required, owing to the brigade being extended to war strength, or other emergency, huts or tents should be provided. As constructed, however, the barracks could, on the average, accommodate 237 men and 15 officers, and 25 married men's quarters. This, he begged their Lordships to note, was not the measure of the barrack accommodation of the country generally; he referred only to the barracks built for the purposes of the brigade depôt centres. Motion (by leave of the House) with drawn. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BILL. (The Earl De La Warr.) (NO. 7.) SECOND READING. Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read. THE LORD CHANCELLOR appealed to the noble Earl (Earl de la Warr) who had charge of this Bill, to postpone the debate till the end of next month, in view of the fact that the Government had a Bill on the same subject, on which they desired at the earliest possible THE DUKE OF RUTLAND asked whether it was intended this year, as formerly, to lay down gravel between the Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, the end of Rotten Row and Queen's Gate, and in Regent's Park? He made this request as much in the interest of pedestrians as equestrians, as the gravel did not splash as much as the macadam; and it was already laid down between Buckingham Palace and the top of Constitution Hill. If it splashed in the one case it would in the other. He should like to prefer a further request for some place to shelter from a storm; but with a Free Trade Budget and an energetic and Protectionist foreign policy, he dared not ask for even a small sum for such a purpose. He would leave the matter over until another year, when circumstances might be more favourable. AND THE DUKE OF RICHMOND GORDON said, that he was unable to accede to the request of his noble Friend. Rotten Row was a place entirely set apart for riding, and was specially laid down for the purpose of being ridden upon. But as regarded the space between the Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner the case was quite different, and for the sake of pedestrians he was obliged to refuse his noble Friend's request. Equestrians had ample space in Rotten Row for riding. It was, however, the intention of the First Commissioner of Works to put down some gravel in Regent's Park. THE DUKE OF RUTLAND said, he was glad to hear that something would Regent's Park, and he hoped the same be done for putting down gravel in the favour would be granted to the_road from Rotten Row to the Queen's Gate. House adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock. PUBLIC BILLS — Ordered · First Reading * CONSTABULARY (IRELAND)-CASE OF MAJOR O'BEIRNE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether subconstable Joyce, and several other constables of the County Sligo Constabulary, have verbally complained to the county inspector, as regards fines, removals, or and unjust character; and, whether such other punishments, as being of a harsh constables and sub-constables have, notwithstanding such verbal complaints, signed a statement through fear of consequences, that they had no complaints to make; and why the county inspector did not himself, or his clerks, put such complaints in writing, and forward them. to the Inspector General of Constabulary? Inclosure Provisional Order (Matterdale Common) [171]; Inclosure Provisional Order (Redmoor and Golberdon Commons) [172]; Inclosure Provisional Order (Maltby Lands) [173]; Inclosure Provisional Order (East Stainmore Common) * [174]. First Reading-Metropolis (Little Coram Street, Bloomsbury, Wells Street, Poplar, and Great Peter Street, Westminster,) Improvement Provisional Orders Confirmation * [175]. Second Reading-West India Loans [167]; Courts of Justice Building Act (1865) Amendment [156]; Valuation of Lands and Assessments (Scotland) * [144]; Supreme Court of Judicature Acts Amendment [134]. Committee Report-Summary Jurisdiction (re-a comm.) [138-169]; Criminal Code (Indictable Offences) [170]. Third Reading Valuation of Lands (Scotland) Amendment [16], and passed. * NOTICE OF MOTION. PREROGATIVE OF THE CROWN. NOTICE OF MOTION. MR. E. JENKINS gave Notice, on the Motion of the hon. Member for Swansea (Mr. Dillwyn), to-morrow, to move "That, in order to prevent the growing abuse, under the advice of Ministers, of the privilege and influence of the Crown, it is necessary that the Royal Prerogative should be more strictly limited and defined." QUESTIONS. 1906 POST OFFICE (IRELAND)—TELEGRAPH CLERKS.-QUESTION. MR. M. BROOKS asked the Postmaster General, Whether, referring to the memorial from the telegraph clerks in the Dublin Post Office, it is intended to raise their pay to an equality with that given to the clerks in the principal English cities discharging similar duties; and, if so, when the reform may be expected to come into operation? LORD JOHN MANNERS: Sir, I beg to inform the hon. Gentleman that the question is now under the consideration of the Government. MR. J. LOWTHER: Sir, as I explained upon a recent occasion, there is prescribed form in which complaints should be made by members of the Constabulary Force, and I find that sub-constable Joyce made no official complaint. It appears that the County Inspector very properly took an opportunity of urging upon him verbally the desirability of abstaining from the course of conduct which had led to the imposition of a recent fine, but that no complaint was made in the official form against that fine; and it was not the duty of the County Inspector to forward reports of conversations. I see that the hon. and gallant Gentleman attributes to members of the Force that they have signed incorrect statements through fear of consequences. I believe that there is no foundation whatever for that allegation; and as the conduct of the County Inspector is called in question, I have made inquiries, from which I find that in three years, during which time he has had upwards of 200 men under his command, the total fines imposed by him have only averaged £2 6s. 8d. per annum. AFGHANISTAN-THE WAR-GENERAL GENERAL SHUTE asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether General Roberts' Supplementary Despatch, published in part only by the Indian Government in the "Gazette of India," dated Calcutta, March 8th, referring to the important services rendered by the 1st Brigade at the successful direct attack and capture of the Peiwar Kotal, will appear in its entirety in the "London Gazette?" MR. E. STANHOPE: Sir, I am afraid I can only say that the whole of this supplementary despatch received in this country shall appear in The Gazette immediately. SOUTH AFRICA · THE ZULU WAR QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether under the new regulations, the recent promotion of Surgeon Major Reynolds, of the 2-24th, for his distinguished services at Rorke's Drift, would not in the ordinary course of events have taken place in a few months; and, under these circumstances, if he will consider whether some further recognition might not fairly be made of that officer's gallant conduct, and of the prominent part he took in the defence on that memorable occasion? COLONEL LOYD LINDSAY: Sir, in the absence of the Secretary of State for War, I may say, in reply to the hon. Gentleman's Question, that very great service has undoubtedly been done by Surgeon Major Reynolds in South Africa, and he was specially promoted 14 months before he could have been in the ordinary course of things, and by that he had passed over the heads of 64 officers. MEDICAL REFORM.-QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, considering the complicated circumstances in which the important question of medical reform is now placed, and in order to avoid further unnecessary delay, he will now agree to its reference to a Select Committee as soon as possible, so that some progress may be made towards dealing with it? LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, I stated some time back the course that the Government intended to pursuenamely, to embody in a Bill those educational reforms which had met, after protracted discussion, with the approval of the vast majority of the Medical Profession, and to refer to a Select Committee the disputed question of the constitution of the Medical Council, undertaking that the Government Bill should not be proceeded with until the Report of the Committee had been received. This course, in our opinion, was the most convenient and the most likely to save time; but I have been unable to carry it out, as the appointment of the Committee is blocked by an Amendment of the hon. Gentleman, which he will not withdraw. We are, therefore, in this position-that we must either accede to the proposal of the hon. Gentleman to refer all the questions contained in all the Medical Bills to a Select Committee, or postpone indefinitely-for the same difficulty would arise next Session-the prospect of medical reform. SOUTH AFRICA-THE ZULU WAR- As this is a contingency much feared by THE 60TH RIFLES-COURT MARTIAL. QUESTION. MR. FRENCH asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House all the Papers relating to the trial by court martial of a sergeant of the 60th Rifles for retiring a picket on the alarm of the enemy without the order of his officer, in which he was sentenced to five years' penal servitude and reduction to the ranks? COLONEL LOYD LINDSAY: Sir, the only Papers relating to the trial which have been received are those embodied in Lord Chelmsford's despatch of April 10, which has been published in The London Gazette. No further Papers are expected. General Shute medical reformers, we are ready to adopt the inconvenient procedure forced on us rather than sacrifice our Bill; and if, therefore, those hon. Gentlemen who have Amendments to the Medical Bills will withdraw them, so as to allow them to be read a second time, I will move that they be referred in their entirety to a Select Committee. SPAIN-LABOUR IN CUBA.-QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any information as to the terms of a Treaty or Convention concluded between the Spanish Government and the King of Annam for the supply of Annamite labourers to Cuba; and, if not, whether he will endeavour to ascertain how far those terms are calculated to secure the | ham Board Schools," and the chairman labourers in question from the oppressions which indentured labourers from other countries have endured and are enduring in Cuba? MR. BOURKE, in reply, said, that an Annamite Mission visited Madrid last year; but in the Report received at the time from our Chargé d'Affaires no mention was made of any Convention between the Spanish Government and the King of Annam for the supply of Annamite labourers to Cuba. Due inquiry would, however, be made into the subject now that it had been brought to the notice of the Government. INDIA FAMINE COMMISSION. QUESTION. GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR asked the Under Secretary of State for India, about the India Famine Commission, as to what parts of India that Commission has visited, what results brought out, where the Commissioners are at present, what they are doing, and when may their Report be expected; and, finally, what has as yet been the cost of this inquiry? MR. E. STANHOPE: Sir, this Commission has visited or received evidence from the greater part of India. The result has been the collection of a great mass of very valuable information, which will require considerable time to sift and arrange. That work has been intrusted to Mr. Justice Cunningham and Mr. Elliott. Mr. Caird has come back to England, General Strachey has resumed his position as a member of the Council of the Secretary of State, and the other members are in India. The Commission is now considering its Report; but I fear some time must elapse before it is completed. proposed that special times should be set apart for moral instruction, the character of which he indicated in these words "That the children should be taught that there were moral laws, and that those laws should be enforced, and that if in the course of the instruction the name of God was mentioned he saw no harm in it;” whether the setting apart special times for teaching this vague morality would come within the power given by the Act to set apart special times for religious teaching; and, whether, under the Conscience Clause, the children of parents who objected to the kind of instruction likely to be deduced from such materials by teachers prohibited from' alluding to religion in any way, would be allowed to withdraw during the time set apart for this systematic moral teaching? LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, the only information which we have concerning the proposed arrangement is derived from the public Press; and from that it appears that a discussion did take place at the Birmingham School Board, and that, in the opinion of the majority of the Board, the moral condition of the children in the Board Schools was not altogether satisfactory. There was very considerable divergence of opinion as to the remedy to be adopted. As regards the second part of the Question, I am afraid that until we are in possession of the code of moral ethics which it is proposed to teach, it would not be possible for me to give an answer, especially as the only information we have is the opinion. of the chairman that the elder children should be put through a slight course of Acts of Parliament. In regard to the last part of the Question, the Education Act of 1870 did not contemplate the contingency of any School Board substituting moral for the religious instruction generally received; and I am sure my hon. Friend will not ask me to give an opinion on any complication which may ensue from the adoption of such a proposal until it comes before us in due form. MR. CHAMBERLAIN: Will the noble Lord allow me to ask him, Whether he is not mistaken in saying that anything has appeared in the public Press or elsewhere which would justify the statement that the majority of the Birmingham School Board are dissatis |