§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the following Question:— Whether it is a fact that Mr. Bannister, 370 late of Belfast, manager of Goulding's Manure and Mineral Water Manufactories in Cork, has received the Commission of the Peace for the City of Cork; and, whether he is not publicly known as being an Orangeman and a member of the Primrose League and the Defence Union; and, whether the Government have had him appointed for the purpose of insulting the Catholic and National people of Cork?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)Mr. Bannister has been appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the City of Cork, on the recommendation of Lord Bandon, Her Majesty's Lieutenant of the City of Cork. He appears to be a large shareholder in Goulding's Manure and Mineral Water Manufactories in Cork, to be closely connected with the commercial interests of Cork, and to be in every way fitted for the office conferred upon him. I am not aware whether he is connected with any of the Bodies specified in the Question of the hon. Member, nor do I feel called upon to make inquiry on the subject, as the fact of his connection therewith would not disqualify him from holding the Commission of the Peace.
§ DR. TANNERArising out of this answer, might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Lord Bandon, the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cork—not the City of Cork—is not also publicly known as being the chief of the Orange Society in Cork, and head of the Primrose League of the City of Cork, and also of the Defence Union?
§ [No reply.]