§ MR. GIBSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to the South African Act for the better preservation of Peace (assented to 2nd August 1878), under the 14th section of which all arms and ammunition deposited within a given time shall be duly valued, and the amount fixed by the valuation paid to the owners so depositing; and, whether, with a view to encouraging the speedy and peaceful deposit of arms and ammunition under the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Bill now before Parliament, he will consider the expediency of introducing a Clause embodying, with due safeguards, the principle of payment contained in the South African Act?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI do not think, Sir, that such an arrangement as the right hon. and learned Gentleman suggests could be conveniently introduced into the Bill, for there would be very great danger of people buying arms cheap in order to give them up to the Government dear. ["Oh, oh!"] I do not think that is at all an improbable arrangement in any country. But I think it is a very proper thing to consider what should be done with reference to the deposit of these arms and the manner of allowing persons to get rid of them on reasonable terms; but I think it will be better to leave that to the Lord Lieutenant to arrange by his Proclamation.