§ MR. A. MOOREasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been drawn to the violence and ill-treatment to which emigrants are subjected at Queenstown by runners and touts belonging to the different lodging-houses; whether his attention has been more particularly directed to a recent ease where the baggage of some young girls, who were desirous of spending the night at Miss O'Brien's Emigrant Home, was seized and detained until a sum of money was paid for its recovery, which, sooner than lose their passages, the emigrants were compelled to pay; and, whether the Board of Trade, in conjunction with, the Irish Government, will take steps to prevent such violence and extortion in future?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, my attention has been drawn to the subject of this Question by letters from Miss O'Brien and in other ways, and I am afraid it is a fact that the conduct of runners and touts belonging to the different lodging-houses in Queenstown has been extremely bad in some cases. I have communicated with the Irish Office, and I am informed that it is a fact that some young girls have been detained in the way mentioned by the hon. Member, and a charge of 5s. demanded. That sum was afterwards reduced to 2s., which was paid, but afterwards returned. The whole matter is under investigation.