§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, on Monday, 26th July, at Ballaghaderin, county Mayo, Mr. Molony, Resident Magistrate, in refusing to commit a child to an industrial school, used the following language:—
People have no right to be stocking the Country with children unless they are able to support them. If they are not able to rear them they must give up the trade;and, if so, whether he will direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the conduct of Mr. Molony?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)The Resident Magistrate in question informed me that the words which were used had not been accurately reported. He pointed out that the Industrial Schools Act was not intended to relieve parents of the cost of the maintenance of their families on the sole ground of poverty; and he deprecated improvident marriages which led to efforts on the part of parents to get their children maintained at the public cost.