MR. J. COWENasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been drawn to the following facts:—That, in the Return of Agrarian Outrages in Ireland for the month of June, only seven are returned as having been committed in the county of Waterford, and of these four are for sending threatening letters; that at the quarter sessions recently held in Waterford there was only one case, and that a case of three lads accused of stealing a few potatoes; that at the last winter assises for the four counties of Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny, containing a population of nearly half a million, there were only thirty-nine cases for trial, eight of which resulted in acquittals, and thirty in convictions; and, if he was aware of the limited extent of agrarian crime, and the small amount of ordinary crime, when he sanctioned the suspension of the constitutional liberties of the inhabitants of the county of Waterford?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that he found that the Return of the agrarian outrages in Ireland for the month of June showed that only seven outrages had been committed in the county of Waterford, and of these four were for sending threatening letters. He did not know what happened at the quarter sessions recently held in Waterford. It might be true that there was only one case, and that against three lads for stealing a few potatoes. But, as he had stated before, it was not so much on the statement of the actual offences committed as on the reports they received of the condition of the county that the Government had to act. They had made the most careful inquiry into the circumstances, and had come to the conclusion—which they believed was perfectly justified—that, having the power with which they had been intrusted by Parliament, it was their duty to prescribe the county of Waterford.
§ MR. HEALYasked whether the right hon. Gentleman had power to suspect whole counties and districts, as well as individuals?
MR. J. COWENasked where the Chief Secretary got his information, if 641 not from the Returns of Crime submitted to Parliament, and on which alone Parliament could form its judgment? What was the basis on which he acted when the Returns of Crime showed that in the four counties of Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, and Kilkenny there had only been 30 cases in six months?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERThe hon. Member is doubtless aware that we have a very heavy responsibility upon us, to see that the powers given to us are used as effectively as possible for the preservation of law and order. We have responsible persons who give us information, and we have made the most careful inquiry of those persons before taking the steps we have taken. The House intrusted us with the discretion; and, as I have already stated more than once, if the House thinks fit to take from us that discretion, they should bring forward a Resolution depriving us of it.
§ Mr. W. E. FORSTERThe hon. Member had better give me Notice of the Question; but it does not at all follow that we should be obliged to make arrests because we prescribe.
§ MR. R. POWERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman really did not know whether or not anyone had been arrested in Waterford?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI do not think Members will be surprised, considering the number of Questions asked, and the manner in which any sort of mistake that I might make would be treated by this House, that in a matter of detail I prefer having Notice.
MR. J. COWENsaid, that the right hon. Gentleman did not give the information asked for, but always closed his answers by saying if hon. Members would submit a Resolution, he would be prepared to meet it.["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member for Newcastle is not entitled to go into an argument.
MR. J. COWENsaid, that what he wanted to know was whether the Government would afford facilities for discussing the grounds upon which 200 persons had been arrested?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERThe hon. Member must be well enough aware of the proceedings of the House to know that, as regards the order of Business, and whether a day will be given by the Go- 642 vernment, I am not the person to ask, but the Prime Minister.