Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

Mr. LARDNER asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that gelignite is offered for sale in Scotland at £80 per ton, while in Ireland the price is £100 per ton, and that blasting powder is offered at 33s. per 100 pounds in Scotland, while the price in Ireland is 43s.; will he cause inquiries to be made as to whether these high prices are demanded and obtained in Ireland as the result of a ring amongst the manufacturers of those commodities; and, further, will he state how many manufacturers of these explosives there were in England, Ireland, and Scotland, respectively?

Mr. CHURCHILL I have no official information as to the relative prices obtaining for explosives in the different districts of the United Kingdom, but I shall be happy to make inquiries on this subject. There are 10 factories of gelignite in the United Kingdom, 8 in England, 1 in Scotland, and 1 in Ireland, and 10 of blasting powder, 8 in England, 1 in Scotland, and 1 in Ireland.

Mr. CATHCART WASON asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called by any local authorities to the presence of persons stationed at intervals on certain roads in order to hamper local authorities in their efforts to enforce the legal limit of 20 miles on public roads; and what reply he has made to such representations if they have been made?

Mr. BURNS I do not find that local authorities have made representations to me on this subject. Indeed, it does not so much concern these authorities as the police, and I may draw my hon. Friend's attention to the answer given by the Home Secretary on the 18th August to a question by the hon. Member for Finsbury on the subject. He then intimated that, with a view to preventing the police being hampered in the discharge of their duties, it might become necessary for Parliament to intervene in the matter.

Mr. LONSDALE asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on Sunday, the 29th of August, between the hours of 7 and 8 o'clock p.m., while public worship was being held in the Protestant Churches of Armagh, a band paraded the streets of the city, playing fifes and drums, and disturbing the worshippers, the noise being so great that in one church the minister, for some minutes could not 902 be heard by the congregation; and whether, having regard to past assurances on this matter, he will take steps to prevent any recurrence of this annoyance?

Mr. BIRRELL I am informed by the constabulary authorities that the members of the band in question, while driving back from sports at Keady, unexpectedly left their brakes and played through Armagh. Had the police anticipated their intention they would have asked them to refrain from playing near any church during Divine Service, a request with which the local bands always comply. The police will do all they can to prevent repetition of this annoyance.

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Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGH Does the right hon. Gentleman know that the members of the Black Preceptory march on Sunday, and will he take steps to stop them?

Mr. BIRRELL I wish they would all stop at home.

Mr. COCHRANE asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in arranging the cruise of the Fleet near the shores of Scotland, he could detach any portion to visit the Clyde and the seaports of Ayrshire?

The SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara) The Clyde is frequently visited by his Majesty's ships, and the Vice-Admiral, with part of the Third Division of the Home Fleet, is now there. The selection of the ports to be visited rests with the officer in command.

Mr. REES Will the Secretary to the Admiralty consider the claims in the behalf of Aberystwyth, Aberayron, Aberdovey, Borth, Barmouth, Criccieth, and the other principal ports of Cardigan and Carnarvon Bays?

Mr. MULDOON (Irish Nat) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it was formerly the custom to allow the police half the fines inflicted in scab sheep prosecutions; why this custom was altered; and whether there is any intention of resuming the practice?

Mr. BIRRELL Section 75 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, provides that one-third of any fine recovered under the Act may be awarded to the informer. The law officers having advised in 1900 that the police who prosecute for offences under the Act cannot be regarded as informers within the meaning of the Section, the constabulary were then instructed not to claim or accept any portion of such penalties.