§ MR. DE COBAIN (Belfast, E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the charge of Baron Dowse to the Grand Jury of Kerry; and, in view of the enormous increase of crime in that county evidenced by the number of cases of crime reported as having risen from 166 at the summer 979 assizes of 1885 to 300 at the present assizes, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to apply for additional powers to deal with this alarming growth of crime in that and also in other parts of the Country?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE) (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)My right hon. Friend has already answered a Question in reference to the statement of the learned Judge, Baron Dowse. Of course, I have not merely to consider the condition of Kerry, but the condition of Ireland at largo, and we do not think that the condition of Ireland at large would warrant legislation such as that at which the hon. Member glances at the present juncture. I might also remind the hon. Member, if he has not already learned, that the month of February Beturn—the most recent Return—is a decidedly favourable one as compared with the previous months.
§ MR. SEXTON (Sligo, S.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact, as stated in this Question, that there is "an alarming growth of crime in that and also in order parts of the country;" and, whether, as a matter of fact, there has been a growth of crime in any county in Ireland except Kerry?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONECertainly the improvement in the month of February was a very favourable improvement compared with the preceding months.