§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will state why neither the Mayor of Cork, nor any of the local Magistrates, were consulted in regard to the preservation of peace and order in that city on the occasion of a proclamation of a meeting on Sunday last; and if it has always been the custom of the authorities to consult the Mayor, as Chief Magistrate of the city, on occasions when there is any reason to apprehend anything tending to a breach of the peace?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Mayor of Cork is reported to have been one of the chief organisers of the illegal meeting, and it was announced by the public press and by public placards that he had promised to attend the meeting. Had he not been so identified in the promotion of the illegal meeting he would have been consulted in the matter.
§ MR. FLYNNCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether any intimation was given to the Mayor of Cork that the meeting called for last Sunday had been proclaimed by the authorities; if not, why was the usual course departed from; and was any notice of the proclamation served on the secretaries or any of the promoters of the meeting?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Constabulary Authorities report that a copy of the proclamation was not handed to the Mayor, or to any of the other promoters of the meeting; but the proclamations were extensively posted throughout Cork city on the previous Friday, and the local newspapers contained announcements to that effect on Friday afternoon and the following day. The proclamations were also largely posted in the county, so that all concerned had full notice.