MR. PIRIE: In whose interests was the locality chosen? Can the hon. Member deny that it was in the interests of the Edinburgh lawyers? [No answer was given.] MR. PIRIE: No. He cannot deny that it was. MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.): I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether there is anything in the rules made under the Private Bill Procedure (Scotland) Act to prevent Commissioners appointed under that Act for the purpose of inquiring into a number of private Bills from holding their sittings, for the purposes of one or more Bills, in one place, and, for the purposes of another Bill or other Bills, in another place, with a view to the convenience of promoters, opponents and witnesses; and whether, if this be the case, he will represent to the Commissioners recently appointed to inquire into the Aberdeen Tramways Bill and the Buckie Harbour Bill the desirability of their transferring their sittings to Aberdeen as soon as they begin their inquiry into those Bills. * MR. SPEAKER: Order, order ! Steam Trawling in Dingle Bay. MR. BOLAND (Kerry, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the night of 11th April damage to the nets of two boats, both fishing in Dingle Bay, was caused by one or more steam trawlers, and that the loss was properly reported at Caherciveen; and, seeing that the ss. "Helga " is not able to patrol the whole coast, whether the assistance of another steamer will be given for the next two months at least, until the spring fishery is over. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM, Dover): The question of providing additional protection to the Irish fisheries against the depredations of trawlers is engaging attention. MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: There is nothing in the rules or in the Act to prevent Commissioners from holding their inquiry in different places, as suggested by the right hon. Member. In fact, this course was adopted in one of last year's inquiries, which was held partly in Glasgow, to settle a Glasgow scheme, and partly at Ayr, to settle schemes in Ayr, Ardrossan, and Irvine; and another inquiry (which ultimately proved unnecessary) was appointed to be held partly in Edinburgh and partly in Greenock. Last year's experience was not considered entirely favourable to the alteration of a place of inquiry or to the holding of an inquiry away from conMR. ORMSBY-GORE (Lincolnshire, venient and central localities. gards the Buckie and Aberdeen Orders, Gainsborough): I beg to ask the Chief I understand that inquiry into the Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of former has now closed, and that into Ireland whether he is aware that the the latter is now proceeding at Edin- town rates of Monaghan have not been collected for the past three years, and burgh. can he state who is responsible for this neglect in the collection of the rates. As re MR. BRYCE: I wish to say that in consequence of the answer, I shall take an early opportunity to call attention to the subject-if possible, on the Scottish Estimates. MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire): May I ask whether the Act does not give full powers to the Commissioners to appoint the place of meeting, and not to the Scottish Office? Monaghan Rates. collected in Monaghan was in 1900, in MR. WYNDHAM: The last town rate MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: The persons to take action, paradoxical as says the Commissioners. Act it may seem, are the ratepayers. Cork Land Appeals. MR. FLYNN (Cork Co., N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Land Commission in recent years have selected Killarney for the hearing of appeals coming from the rural districts of Kanturk, Newmarket, and Millstreet; and whether, in view of the inconvenience and expense caused to solicitors and clients, the Land Commissioners will consider the advisability of hearing these cases in Cork or other central place. MR. WYNDHAM: The localities mentioned in the Question are all nearer to Killarney than to Cork. The matter is one for determination by the Land Commissioners, who, I have no doubt, will consult the convenience of all parties concerned, so far as possible. I have brought the hon. Member's suggestion under the notice of the Commissioners. Ennistymon Agrarian Outrage. MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any persons have been made amenable for the malicious injuries inflicted on four horses, the property of Mr. John McInerney, of Ennistymon. MR. WYNDHAM: Every effort has been made by the police to clear up this case. No person has yet been made amenable. I ought to add that this case was not, in respect of cruelty, akin to the revolting case to which the hon. and gallant Member for East Antrim drew attention on Friday. CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork Co., E.): Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there are any vacancies in the Criminal Investigation Department which would suit the Members for Antrim ? *MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! Ex-Sergeant Sheridan R.I.C. MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that he saw no evidence that Sergeant Sheridan had burned Mrs. Quinlan's hay, he yet recommended compensation to the mother of Con Bray, whom Sheridan prosecuted and convicted for the offence; and, in view of the fact that Murphy, who was imprisoned on the testimony of Sergeant Sheridan for the mutilation and killing of Michael Cregan's ass in the same locality, was afterwards compensated on the recomendation of the Chief Secretary, will he recommend that the Constabulary authorities, or whatever other Department compensated Mrs. Bray and Murphy, shall refund their respective moneys to the tax payers which were levied on them for this compensation, seeing that the various sums can be ascertained from the books of the rate collector of that time and from the books of the gentleman who was then secretary of the Grand Jury, which are now in the custody of the secretary of the Limerick County Council. MR. WYNDHAM: I said, Sir, on the 22nd that I had no evidence to prove that Sheridan burned Mrs. Quinlan's hay. I pointed out the difficulty of tracing the ratepayers nearly four years ago. On the merits of whether the sums collected should be repaid to the County Council I gave no opinion, but expressed my readiness to consider a request from that Body. I have nothing more to add. MR. LUNDON: I will furnish the right hon. Gentleman with a complete list of the ratepayers who paid four years ago. Irish Fairs-Prices of Stock. MR. LUNDON: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the names and addresses of the nine men who report from their observations on the fairs, for the guidance of the Land Commissioners, as to the prices of stock, and to what religous denominations these reporters belong; how many fairs in the year they attend; how many reports are they bound to furnish; and is the sum of £200 previously specified the sum paid to all collectively of the year's services, or does it mean £200 for each reporter. MR. WYNDHAM: The reports made by the Inspectors are made to Department of Agriculture Land Commissioners. municated their names the hon. Member. Their religious MR. HEMPHILL: Will the right denominations are not known to the hon. Gentleman inquire further. This Department. Last year the number of child of four is a perfect waif. She canfairs attended by the reporters was 143; not appeal from the decision, and there the number of reports made was 308. will be no redress unless the right hon. The payments to them, collectively, Gentleman sees that the magistrate is average about £800 per annum, includ- set right. ing travelling expenses. MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr.): Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reports of these officials are repudiated by sellers of stock? [No answer was returned.] Commitments to Irish Industrial Schools. MR. HEMPHILL (Tyrone, N.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a decision of Mr. W. E. Dunsterville, Resident Magistrate, at the Strabane Petty Sessions, on the 14th April inst., in which he refused to commit to St. Catherine's Certified Industrial School at Strabane a little girl named Mary Dempsey, who was otherwise admittedly a fit subject for such committal, on the sole ground that he had no legal power to do so because she was under six years of age, although the manager of the schools was willing to take her free of public charge; and whether, inasmuch as there is not any provision in the Industrial Schools Acts to warrant such a decision, and children under six years of age have been frequently committed to industrial schools, he will be good enough to state on what grounds this child, whose mother was then in prison, was debarred from being rescued from the streets and sent to an industrial school. MR. WYNDHAM: The magistrate stated the grounds for his decision It is not for me to criticise in court. its validity. MR. HEMPHILL: I asked on what ground the magistrate based his decision. Is there anything in the Act of Parliament to exclude children under six years of age? MR. WYNDHAM: I have said the magistrate stated his decision. It is not for me to say whether or not he rightly interprets the Act. MR. WYNDHAM: If I find it possible I will further inquire into the matter. Crime in County Cork. CAPTAIN DONELAN: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at the quarter sessions for the Midleton Division of the County Cork, held last week at Midleton, the Recorder of Cork informed the grand jury that the only case to go before them was one of petty larceny; and if he can say why the Midleton district has been proclaimed under the Criminal Law and Procedure Act. MR. WYNDHAM: I am afraid I cannot supplement the statement already made by me in this matter. CAPTAIN DONELAN: Is the object. of these proclamations to create crime? *MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! MR. DELANY (Queen's Co., Ossory): May I ask why, in view of the peaceful condition of Queen's County, that has not been included in the proclamation? *MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! Royal Irish Constabulary. MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will undertake that, before carrying out at the expense of Irish taxpayers any of the recommendations made by the Committee which investigated the alleged grievances of the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Irish representatives will be afforded an opportunity of discussing the recommendations. MR. WYNDHAM: Some of the recommendations could only be given effect to by legislation, which would necessarily give an opportunity for discussion. To carry out the remaining recommenda- | recently been asked for, and was not the tions not requiring legislation, an addi- manufacturer whose tender was the lowest tional sum of money would have to be a Dublin firm, and will the hon. Gentle-placed on the Estimates. The Estimates man see that the lowest Irish tender be for the current year contain no such accepted? provision. The Question of the hon. Member is, therefore, premature. MR. MACVEAGH: But is it not possible that some of the changes for which legislation is not required might be made after the Estimates had been passed? In that case we should have no opportunity of discussing them. MR. WYNDHAM: I have no immediate intention of asking for any provision to be made. MR. MACVEAGH: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state how many of the county inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary and how many district inspectors are Roman Catholics and Protestants respectively. MR. WYNDHAM: Four of the county inspectors are Roman Catholics and thirty-three Protestants. Sixty district inspectors are Roman Catholics and 154 Protestants. Irish Post Office Boot Contracts. *MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green): I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether it is in contemplation to withdraw the contract for Irish telegraph messengers' boots from Irish manufacturers; and, if so, seeing that this work is for an Irish Department, whether he will use his efforts to secure that the contracts be kept in that country. MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN : The Irish tenders for the supply of telegraph messengers' boots in Ireland were this year as much as 15 per cent. higher than the English tenders after allowing for the cost of carriage, and consequently the Postmaster General has felt it necessary to consider the question of placing the contract elsewhere for this year. *MR. NANNETTI: Is it not a fact that tenders for supplying these boots have MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN: Certainly not. *MR. NANNETTI: But tenders were asked for only from Ireland, and is it not usual to accept the lowest ? Removal of an Irish Magistrate. MR. POWER (Waterford, E.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Power, of Dungarvan, County Waterford, has been removed. from the Commission of the Peace by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland; and jw whether he can state the date on which Mr. Power was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace. MR. WYNDHAM: Mr. Power has been removed from the Commission of the Peace. Upon his election as Chairman of the Dungarvan Urban District Council, he became, ipso facto, a Justice of the Peace. He had not taken the magisterial oaths, but he was by law a magistrate, and could at any time have acted as such on taking the oaths. MR. POWER: Had this gentleman been sworn in as a magistrate ? measure on this subject during the course of the present session, nor do I regard myself as being a universal legatee of pledges made in the Parliament of 1882. Municipal Trading. MR. KIMBER: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will state when he proposes to nominate the Committee on Municipal Trading. MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I should be glad to see the Committee to which my hon. friend refers appointed as soon as Possible; but I am afraid that in the present condition of public business I cannot find time for a debated Motion on the subject. Business of the House. MR. BRYCE: On behalf of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Stirling Burghs, I beg to ask the First Lord of MR. WYNDHAM : I have said he had the Treasury whether he can now state not. DR. AMBROSE: Will pro-Boer magistrates be treated in the same way! Committals for Contempt of Court. MR. SWIFT MACNEILL: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that in October, 1882, the Government of the day promised, on an early date, to introduce a measure with a view of defining and limiting the power of fine and committal for contempt of court; and, having regard to the expressions used by Lord Russell of Killowen from the judicial bench in April, 1896, in the case of Payne . Cooper, with respect to applications for contempt of court and the decisions thereon, whether the Government will take into consideration the propriety at an early day of proposing legislation on this subject themselves or of affording facilities for the passage through Parliament of the Bill on this subject introduced by the hon. Member for North Leitrim. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, F.): I can hold out no hope to the hon. Gentleman of being able to find time for a the intentions of the Government in regard to the Whitsuntide recess; and what business it is proposed to take on Thursday and Friday and during next week. MR. A. J. BALFOUR: It is proposed to take discussion on the Rules tomorrow and Thursday. I can make no statement about Friday. With regard to the Whitsuntide holidays, I regret to say that I see very little prospect of our being able to extend them beyond the Thursday after Whit Sunday. MR. BRYCE: The House would be glad to know what course the right hon. Gentleman proposes to take with regard to the Education and Finance Bills. MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I do not gather that that is in the Question on the Paper. MR. BRYCE: The last words were intended to cover it. MR. A. J. BALFOUR: Well, as I have already announced, we propose to take the Second Reading of the Education Bill on Monday, and the Second Reading of the Finance Bill on the following Monday. |