SIR HERVEY BRUCEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that some counties in Ireland are charged for an extra force of police though they have not their proper allotted force, even with the addition of what is called "extra force;" and, if so, whether he will propose a remedy for the grievance? In the county of Derry five extra policemen were appointed 20 years ago, and though long removed, a charge was still made on the county rates on that account.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, that the mode of charging for extra police when there were vacancies 1812 in the regular force was settled by one of the Constabulary Acts, the 29 & 30 Vict. It provided that in case vacancies should occur in the augmented force, there should be deducted from the number of extra force to be charged as many constables as should bear the same proportion to the whole number of vacancies in the augmented force that the extra force bore to the whole number of the augmented force. In the case mentioned by the hon. Member that deduction could not be made, for, as a rule-of-three sum would show, the number to be deducted would not amount to one man. The quinquennial revision of the quota would soon occur, and the case of Londonderry would then be considered, probably with the view of placing the five extra men there on the Parliamentary quota.