follow the example of their Predecessors | the renewal, revision, or denunciation in the case of the Bulgarian outrages, of conventions now existing between and depute a Special Commissioner to Tunis and this Country, even if to ha make inquiries in Russia? detriment of British subjects? 'SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: The hon. Member must give Notice of that Question. POST OFFICE-TELEGRAPH CLERKS. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: S Her Majesty's Government consider thr the position of British subjects in Turis is established by the Convention of 1875 between this country and the Regeny SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked and the hon. Member will find in the the Postmaster General, Whether he has Papers already distributed that Her Ma seen a statement made at a meeting jesty's Government have explicitly stated of London telegraph clerks on Saturday to the French Government their views last, "that some of them had worked with regard to the rights of British subtwenty-one consecutive hours;" whe-jects under existing Treaties. I may ther the statement is true; and, if so, what rate of overtime is paid for such exceptionally severe labour; and, how far is liability to such excessive hours prevalent at other large offices? MR. FAWCETT: Sir, in the inquiries I have been lately making into the position of the telegraphists, I have seen reason to direct particular attention to the question of overtime. Although the length of the ordinary day's work is eight hours, it is often arranged that the 16 hours worked in two days should be divided into a short day's work of three hours, succeeded by one of 13 hours, and after working 13 hours, the telegraphists not unfrequently volunteer to work overtime. It has occasionally happened that a telegraphist has been on duty 21 hours. I am sure that such an amount of continuous duty must be alike injurious to the telegraphist and to the interest of the Public Service. In the proposals I am about to make with regard to the future position of the telegraphists, the question of overtime will be dealt with in such a way as will, I hope, prevent such excessive employ ment in future. FRANCE AND TUNIS-RIGHTS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS. SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have or will come to a clear understanding with France as to the future position of British subjects in Tunis; whether their rights and privileges, as established under the Convention of 1875, are to be respected and maintained; and, whether France will assume the right and control the action of the Tunisian Government in respect of Sir H. Drummond Wolff point out to the hon. Member that Article 40 of the above-mentioned Conver tion specially provides that, although the expiration of seven years from it conclusion, either of the high contract ing Powers shall have the right to cal upon the other to enter upon a revision of the same, yet until such revision sha have been accomplished by common cosent, and a new Convention concluded and put into operation, the present C vention is to remain in full force an! effect. With regard to the hon. Merber's second Question, I can add nothing to what is stated in Lord Granville's Note to M. Challemel Lacour of the 20th instant., which will be found in Tunis," No. 3, page 10. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS CATTLE. MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether it is true that an Order has been issued for the compulsory slaughter at the ports Portugal; and, if true, whether he w of landing of all cattle from Spain and will state what is the reason for the issue of this Order? MR. MUNDELLA: Sir, I regret to say it is true that the Privy Council have been compelled to withdraw the exemp tion from slaughter at the port of landing which has hitherto been extended to Spanish and Portuguese cattle. The grounds on which we have revoked this exemption are the outbreak of pleuro pneumonia in the North of Spain, in consequence of which the French Govern ment have prohibited the importation of Spanish cattle into France; and the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease both in the North and South of Spain. We have not taken this step until after the not procure needful sleep; and, whefullest inquiry, and the most careful in-ther, in view of the delicacy of Mr. vestigation on the spot, not only by our own Consuls, but by an experienced English veterinary surgeon. Having satisfied ourselves of the prevalence of disease in Spain, that country ceased to come within the conditions of the Act of 1878, under which alone foreign animals can be exempted from slaughter. The absence of any regulations in Portugal which would prevent the transit of Spanish animals, made it necessary to take the same course with regard to Portugal. FRANCE — THE NEW COMMERCIAL TUTION OF COMMISSION. Dillon's constitution and the precarious state of his health, the Government will give him for his sole occupation a room in a suitable portion of the prison? He also wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, owing to the fact that there is but one cell provided in Kilmainham Prison for interviews between persons detained there and visitors, and that only one visitor is admitted to the prison at one time, it is impossible for more than twenty-four of the prisoners to receive visits on any day within the specified hours; and, whether, as the number of persons now detained in Kilmainham is much larger than the number capable of receiving visits under the present system, and as visitors are put to the inconvenience of long delays, and persons detained are deprived of the exercise of the right to receive a daily by the rules, the Government will take visit, a right ostensibly secured to them steps by increasing the number of visiting cells or otherwise, to secure that each SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: Sir, the person entitled to a daily visit shall be Commissioners appointed to negotiate actually in a position to receive it? the Commercial Treaty with France will informed that the reason why Mr. Dillon MR. W. E. FORSTER: Sir, I am probably consist of myself, Sir Charles Rivers Wilson, K.C.M.G., C.B., Secre- wished to be taken back to his cell is tary and Controller-General of the Na- not that stated by the hon. Member. tional Debt Office, Mr. C. M. Kennedy, mainham, and it is not the fact that one There are three visiting cells at KilC.B., Head of the Commercial Depart-visitor only is admitted at a time. Fifty ment of the Foreign Office, and Mr. Crowe, Her Majesty's Consul-General at Düsseldorf, and Commercial Attaché at Berlin and Vienna. Every opportunity MR. MONK asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can state the names of the Commissioners appointed to negotiate the Commercial Treaty with France; and, whether it is Treaty with France; and, whether it is intended to take the evidence of experts from various parts of the Country during the sittings of the Commission? will be afforded to manufacturers and the representatives of various industries in this country to afford information to the Commissioners on points connected with the proposed tariff before any arrangement is entered into. PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PRO- MR. SEXTON asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that the honourable Member for Tipperary has returned from the infirmary in Kilmainham Prison to an ordinary cell, in consequence of the fact that the authorities of the prison put other persons to occupy and sleep in the room at first allotted to Mr. Dillon solely, and that under these circumstances he could or 60 visits may take place daily. MR. SEXTON: Will a room be set apart for Mr. Dillon's use? MR. W. E. FORSTER: If the hon. Gentleman will give me sufficient Notice I will inform him of the position of affairs in that respect. MR. T. P. O'CONNOR: Would the right hon. Gentleman inform the House how many hours on an average the hon. Member for Tipperary is compelled to remain in his cell alone? MR. PARNELL: I wish to point out to the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant that my hon. Friend the Member for Sligo (Mr. Sexton) has already given Notice of the Question of which the right hon. Gentleman now requires further Notice. MR. W. E. FORSTER: I can give no answer to that Question until I know what representations Mr. Dillon himself has made to the directors of the prison, and what their reply has been upon the subject. The Government will give | fore, I have decided that it will be best every reasonable attention to such re- to leave matters as they are. presentations as Mr. Dillon himself may make, but they must be representations made by him. SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA: I think there is more in this case than seems to be imagined. I think, Sir, it is absolutely necessary that we should be satisfied upon this point-that the hon. Member who is now in prison in Kilmainham shall not suffer more inconvenience or greater hardship than if he had been in prison in this House for contempt of the Orders of this House. The hon. Member has a right to be here under ordinary circumstances. He should be here taking part in the debates in this House; but we know that he is in prison, not because there is any charge against him, but because he is suspected. I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give the House an assurance that the hon. Member shall not be subjected to greater hardship than if he had been a prisoner in this House for a contempt of its Orders? MR. W. E. FORSTER: Sir, I think I have already given an answer which applies to one part of the Question of the hon. Member. Mr. Dillon will certainly be subjected to no cruelty, and, as I have said, every attention will be paid to any representations he himself may make to the prison authorities. ARMY ORGANIZATION-THE KING'S OWN BORDERERS. MR. MARJORIBANKS asked the Secretary of State for War, If he would state the reasons why York has been preferred to Berwick on Tweed as the head quarters of the King's Own Borderers, a Regiment essentially Scotch in its privileges, history, and origin? MR. CHILDERS: Sir, in reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the 25th Regiment has been localized at York since the year 1873; but that we have endeavoured to see whether some arrangement might not be made more in harmony with the traditions of the regiment, whose title is the Borderers, by moving them to Berwick. But this would have necessitated arrangements as to the affiliated Militia battalions which are practically impossible, and also would have raised difficulties as to barracks. With great reluctance, there Mr. W. E. Forster ENDOWED SCHOOLS ACTS—THE HULME TRUST. MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether the scheme for the Hulme Trust has 1-å the Education Department; and whe it is probable that it will become Law? MR. MUNDELLA: Sir, the sche for the Hulme Trust were sent some time ago to the Charity Commissiones for the purpose of having certain alterations introduced, which, it is hopi may prove satisfactory to the varia parties interested. The amended schemes have now been returned, and approved by the Education Department, and uless further objections are made, there is no reason why they should not become law in about two months. ARMY-THE AUXILIARY FORCES—THE COMPANIONSHIP OF THE BATH MR. BRIGGS asked the Secretary State for War, Whether field others retired from the Auxiliary Forces with permission to retain their rank, are eligible for the honour of the Companionship of the Bath about to be be stowed on a limited number of the field officers of those forces; and, whether that honour is to be confined to field officers in active service? MR. CHILDERS: Sir, in reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the selection of officers of the Auxiliary Forces for honorary distinctions is made as a general rule from officers in active command of regiments; but those who have retired from the command and have been appointed honorary colonels of their regiments, are not considered absolutely ineligible for those distinc tions. THE CONSTABULARY (IRELAND) — CIRCULAR OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. MR. CALLAN asked the Chief Secre tary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it was a fact that since the issue of the Circular, which was published in the "Freeman's Journal" on Saturday, the arrests of persons "reasonably suspected" by the police had not more than doubled in number? MR. PARNELL wished to ask the Chief Secretary a Question of which he gave him Notice earlier in the eveningnamely, Whether his attention has been directed to a paragraph in the "Freeman's Journal" of Saturday, which has been published in several London journals of this morning, purporting to be the text of a Circular alleged to have been issued by the Inspector General of the Irish Constabulary, regretting that the police have been unable, in a great majority of instances, either to give grounds of "reasonable suspicion" of the perpetrators of the outrages, or of those who instigated them? He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether such a Circular has been issued; whether the "Freeman" correctly reproduced it; and, if so, whether it was issued with the knowledge and sanction of the Irish Executive? MR. M'COAN also asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland a Question of which he had given private Notice. MR. W. E. FORSTER: I understand the Question put by the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell) to be the same as that put by the hon. Member for Wicklow (Mr. M Coan). I can state that the confidential Circular | which I have seen in The Freeman's Journal of yesterday is, so far as I have been able to compare it, authentic, and has been issued with the knowledge and approval of the Executive Government, and, I may state, of myself. As regards the Question of the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Callan), I shall be ready tomorrow to give the reasons why that Circular was issued. SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE: With reference to that observation, I wish to know whether it is understood that there is to be a Morning Sitting tomorrow? MR. GLADSTONE: Yes, Sir. MR. CALLAN wished to ask whether the following portion of the Circular had the full approval of the Chief Secretary when it was issued : "This document is not to leave the hands of the County Inspector, and must be kept under lock and key, and any orders to insure its being carried out must be communicated verbally to the sub-inspectors, head, or other constables as emanating from the County Inspectors themselves."' He wished to know whether Her Majesty's Government gave instructions that deliberate misrepresentations should be made? [Cries of "Order!"] ! MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member is passing beyond the limits of a Question. MR. CALLAN: If it will be necessary for me, in face of such a grave scandal, I will move the adjournment of the House. I do not wish to do so; but I wish to say unless the Chief Secretary gives explanations, and unless the explanations MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member is now using language menacing the House. MR. CALLAN: If I am in fault, it was not my intention to be so; and I hope, under the circumstances, I shall be excused. The Question I have to ask the Chief Secretary is, Whether this Circular was issued with his full knowledge and sanction; and if it was intended that a misrepresentation should be conveyed by the County Inspectors to the sub-inspectors, head, and other con- . stables, as emanating from themselves? MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member has not concluded with a Motion, and has, therefore, been guilty of an irregularity. MR. CALLAN: I said that unless the Question was answered, I would move the adjournment of the House. MR. W. E. FORSTER: Sir, I wish to say that I understood the Question of the last hon. Member to refer to the Circular itself. I believe that it is exactly and fully authentic. I approved of it; and I will, at the proper time, give my reasons for it. As to the paragraph which has been read, I shall be prepared to-morrow to state everything I know in regard to it. I cannot, at the present moment, say more than that; but I will give a full explanation to morrow. MR. CALLAN: Sir, to put myself in Order, I will conclude with a Motion. I must express my regret that a Minister of the Crown has not, at the earliest moment, availed himself of the opportunity Circular. I beg to move the adjournof repudiating any knowledge of the ment of the House. The Motion not being seconded, was not put.] WAYS AND MEANS-CUSTOM AND INLAND REVENUE BILL-SALE OF LIQUORS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES. SIR JOHN KENNAWAY asked the Prime Minister, Whether it was his in tention to persevere with the Clause in | Limerick was still holding out against the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill the large military force which had been for the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors in Railway Carriages? MR. GLADSTONE: Sir, it is not a clause in the Revenue Bill; but I wish to make a short statement on the subject, and also on another point raised by the Leader of the Opposition. This proposal, of allowing strong liquors to be retailed in Pullman cars, was viewed by the Railway Companies who made the application, and by the Board of Inland Revenue, as simply a matter of administration. They were not at all prepared to expect that it would be regarded as sent against it; and, whether the right Lord Frederick Cavendish.) COMMITTEE. Order for Committee read. Motion made, and Question proposed, Chair."-(Mr. Chancellor of the Exche"That Mr. Speaker do now leave the quer.) LOCAL TAXATION.-RESOLUTION. MR. PELL rose, pursuant to Notice, to a proposal of a revolutionary cha- (Mr. Playfair, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, racter. To dispose of their proposal would occupy several hours of the time of the House, and it is not my wish, since it is comparatively unimportant in relation to other matters, to ask the House to devote several hours to it. The proposal has been killed by the menaces to which it has been exposed. With regard to those who have opposed it, I should be glad if they would supply the Board of Inland Revenue with any suggestions they may have, so that they may be considered if the proposal should appear in a future year. I have also to state that, in fulfilment of the conditional pledge which I gave on Friday, it is my intention to ask the House to meet at 2 o'clock to-morrow, for the purpose of discussing the Motion of the hon. Member for Longford (Mr. Justin M'Carthy), and any kindred topic. NAVY-COURT MARTIAL AT SYDNEY- In answer to Mr. MACDONALD, STATE OF IRELAND-DISTURBANCES Sir John Kennaway move "That the annual consideration of the measures imposing taxation should be accompanied by a Ministerial Statement of Local Taxation and Finance, so as to afford the House an opportunity of reviewing as a whole the requisitions made on the Nation for local as well as Impepurposes." rial He said, that he had hoped that such a statement as was indicated in the terms of his Notice would have been made on the subject of Local Finance. The question of local expenditure, local receipts, and local indebtedness was really one of national importance when they came to consider the growing figures which it involved, and he thought they ought to have the matter placed before them in as clear and comprehensive a manner as was done yearly in the case of Imperial Taxation and Expenditure. The Returns relating to Local Finance were extremely difficult to analyse, and rather difficult to understand, while the time at which the country received them was not a period when they were likely to command the attention they merited. In 1873 he had himself introduced a Bill into that House to require all local authorities to make a return of their accounts at a stated time; and, further, to provide that a responsible Ministerhe thought the President of the Local |