§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the language reported to have been used by Mr. Blake, paid resident magistrate at Tuam, when refusing an application for a licence under the Arms Act, to the effect that he would never grant a licence to a member of the Land League; whether the Government approve of this ground of refusal; whether he is aware of the habit of Mr. Blake when trying cases on the bench to put queries of a hurtful nature to supposed members of the Land League; and, whether this official's "Letters of Terence McGrath" have been brought under the notice of the Government?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, with respect to the first Question, I have been furnished with a report of the observation made by Mr. Blake on the occasion referred to; and he is the licensing 1955 officer appointed by law to grant the use of arms in the district. With the observations Mr. Blake is reported to have made I have no fault to find, and, so far, I think they were right under the circumstances. Mr. Blake informs me he has never made any observations offensive or hurtful to the Land League, or to any one of its members brought before him judicially. With regard to the third Question, I am not aware that an offender has been brought before Mr. Blake who has connection with the League. With regard to the last Question, I believe there is an amusing book which has the title described in the Question; but, unfortunately, I have not had time to read it.
§ MR. HEALYasked the right hon. Gentleman, whether it was not a fact that a very severe caution had been given to Mr. Blake by the late Government for having written articles of a political nature?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, that he had better ask the Question of a Member of the late Government.