§ MR. SEXTON (for Mr. O'KELLY)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that William Hunter, of Smithfield, Belfast, carries on the business of auctioneer 20 and appraiser at above address, he being a person appointed to the office of appraiser over the pawnbrokers of county Antrim by the Grand Jury, and, in contravention of the Act, carries on the pawnbroking business at North Queen Street and Shankhill Road, also the business of money lender and bill discounter; is it a fact that Joseph Anderson, being appointed as above, manages a pawn office, and carries on the business of auctioneer in Smithfield, Belfast, the owner of said pawn office residing in Gilford, county Down; is it true that those men do not conduct their business as directed by the Act, viz. sending notice to owners of goods before the sale, and that they have not nor do they keep a record of the sales for the satisfaction of the owners, as required by the Act, the goods in no instance being appraised; is it a fact that Samuel Trimble, deputy treasurer for the county Antrim, carries on the business of a pawnbroker on the Falls Road, Belfast, and is it in conformity with the Act that pawnbrokers can carry on their business by deputy; is it a fact that James M'Keoron, of Royal Avenue, Belfast, carries on the business of pawnbroker at above address, taking in pledges before 10 o'clock a.m. and after 4 p.m. in the Winter half year, and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the Summer half year, also illegally disposes of pledges over the counter, he not being a lawfully qualified person for the disposal of pawnbrokers' pledges; and, by what means does the Marshal of the City of Dublin take to ascertain if the returns made to Parliament are correct in connection with the pawnbroking trade?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE)I am informed that the statements contained in the first and second paragraphs of the Question are substantially accurate; but I am not aware that the persons mentioned do not conduct their business as directed by the Act. I am informed that Samuel Trimble does not carry on the business of pawnbroker in Belfast. I believe that James M'Keoron conducts his business during the same hours as the other pawnbrokers in Belfast, and that he disposes of pledges over the counter. I am not aware of the means taken by the City Marshal to verify his Parliamentary Returns.