Chiswickite - formerly The Croydonian

Mr. ASHLEY asked whether the German cruiser which was laid down in 1907, at the same time as the British "Invincible," is of considerably greater displacement and fighting power than the British vessel, and whether the German Government have, during the last year and the present year, laid down two more cruisers still larger and more powerful?
 
Mr. McKENNA  The details with regard to the "Von der Tann," which is assumed to be the vessel referred to in the first part of the question, have not been made public, but it is not anticipated that the comparison suggested with regard to our "Invincibles" will be found to be justified. It has been stated in the Press that the two cruisers laid down subsequently by the German Government will be larger and more powerful than the "Von der Tann."

Mr. ASHLEY  Is it not a fact that the German cruisers have twelve big guns and ours only eight?

Mr. McKENNA It may be well known to the hon. Gentleman, but we have no official information on the subject.

Mr. ASHLEY Then are we to understand that these battleships are going on the scrap heap?

Mr. McKENNA The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong.

Mr. ASHLEY If that is not so, why have these battleships not got a proper complement of men?
 

Mr. McKENNA It is rather difficult to explain the organisation in answer to a question across the floor of the House, but the fourth division of the Home Fleet has nothing to do the scrap heap.

Captain FABER  May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if Admiral Sturdee was Lord Charles Beresford's Chief of Staff?

Mr. McKENNA Yes, Sir; I believe he was when he was captain.

Mr. ASHLEY May I ask if this officer received a warning that if he remained with Lord Charles Beresford he might find himself unemployed?

Mr. McKENNA The statement made by the hon. Gentleman is absolutely without warrant, and he has no right whatever to make any such statement in public.

Dr. RUTHERFORD (Lib, Brentford) asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Chiswick Urban District Council paved Barrowgate-road in 1901, subsequently took legal proceedings against one of two frontagers who refused to pay their apportionments, abandoned these proceedings, and then in the middle of the night of 20th May, 1909, tore up 300 to 400 feet of paving stones fronting the premises of the person against whom they started legal proceedings; and whether he proposes to hold a public inquiry into this expenditure of public money on legal proceedings and in regard to this destruction of public property?

Mr. BURNS I have received a Memorial on this subject from some of the ratepayers of the district. It is not one, however, with respect to which I am empowered to direct an inquiry at the present time. The only jurisdiction I should have in the matter would be on an appeal from the decision of the auditor as to the legality or otherwise of the expenditure incurred. It will be competent for any ratepayer to raise this question before the auditor at the audit of the accounts in which the expenditure is charged.

Mr. BOWERMAN (Lab) asked the Secretary of State for War whether he would grant facilities to the rank and file of the Army to cater for themselves, as are allowed to the commissioned ranks?

Mr. HALDANE I am afraid that the hon. Member's suggestion is impracticable. In barracks at present, within certain limits, soldiers settle details regarding the cooking of their rations and the expenditure of the messing allowance.

Boycotting and Maltreatment (Alleged), Fawney Cross, North Derry

Mr. GLENDINNING  (Ind Unionist) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a Mr. Robert Bailey, residing at Fawney Cross, in the division of North Derry, is the victim of boycotting and intimidation, and that his cattle is being maltreated, causing him considerable financial loss;....
 
Mr. BIRRELL I am informed by the constabulary authorities that Mr. Bailey is not the victim of boycotting or intimidation. He has reported to the police that seven of his cattle have been maltreated during the spring and summer, and that as a consequence four of them have died. After careful investigation the police have been unable to find any evidence in support of his suspicions that these cattle were maliciously injured.

Mr. SHEEHAN  (Irish Nat) asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state what approximately  was the cost to the Department of its stand for dairy produce at the recent show of the Belfast Industrial Development Association; whether he is aware that the persons who made inquiries at the Department's stand, and whose names were transmitted to the creameries as probable customers were all persons who were financially unsound; is the Department aware that no customers have been secured by the exhibitors as a result of this show; and will the Department take steps to see that only inquiries from distributers who are financially sound will be transmitted to exhibitors?

Then again, maybe not.

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL The approximate cost incurred by the Department in exhibiting Irish agricultural produce at this show was £48. The answers to the other queries are in the negative.