§ MR. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the note appended to the Report of the Special Commission on the Tweed Fisheries Acts, at page 201 of the Index, in which the Commissioners state that—
They are satisfied that the additional constables engaged in the protection of the river may be supplemented, and, in point of fact, are supplemented, by the county police, who are so far liable to be withdrawn from their special duties;whether he has noticed the evidence given before that Commission by the Sheriff Substitute of Roxburghshire, to the effect that "the efficiency of the police is considerably injured" by their employment as water bailiffs; and, whether he is prepared henceforward to permit that members of the regular county police should assist the constables paid from the funds of the Tweed Commissioners in their duties as water bailiffs?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, his attention had been called to the Report to which his hon. Friend alluded; but he had not yet been able 974 to give it that attention which it deserved. He might say, however, with respect to the supplementary force for the protection of rivers, that before the presentation of this Report he had been in communication with the Inspectors of Police in England on the subject, and the attention of the Government was directed to it.