§ MR. MARUMasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, when the Royal Irish Constabulary Distribution Bill has received the Royal Assent, the Government is prepared to issue instructions to the proper authorities in relation thereto, that, wherever the "free" force is found insufficient (as is alleged by the local officials as to Kilkenny county) for the ordinary working of the several police stations, steps shall be taken to inquire into the propriety of some consolidation of the same, or otherwise, so as to have the extra force reduced altogether, or to a fair normal standard for each county; and, whether, in the event of an extra-force being still deemed necessary for mere ordinary service, the Government will be prepared to provide that the expenses of the same shall be defrayed from the same source as the expenses of the "free" force, originally calculated upon the assumption that it was sufficient for the ordinary requirements of such county?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANThe effect of the new Distribution Bill will be that it will raise somewhat the number of the free force to be allocated to the counties. Where this number has to be exceeded, the cost of such excess will fall in equal proportions upon the county and the Imperial Exchequer. The Irish Government will continue to use every endeavour to secure that no extra force of Constabulary beyond the free quota is stationed in a county, and to keep such extra force, where necessary, at the lowest possible number. As the Government have to bear half the cost of any extra force, they are not 1644 likely to require a larger one than they consider absolutely necessary. It is, of course, within the power of the localities to give the Government very material assistance in their efforts in this direction.