§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, How many resignations have been received from members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and Metropolitan Police Force, Dublin, during the six months ending March 31st; and, whether it is true that the men joining these bodies at present compare unfavourably in point of physique, height, &c. with 867 the class of men by which the force was previously recruited?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, I have received a report by which it appears that the number of resignations in the Constabulary in the period named was 113. But it must be borne in mind that there was a larger number of recruits than usual, and the number of registered candidates is still greatly in excess of the demand. In the same period there were only seven resignations in the Metropolitan Police Force; and in the past year the applications for admission were most numerous. As to the physique and height of the men the hon. Member is misinformed; if anything, the men are of finer physique than formerly.