§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Whether it is true, as stated in United Ireland of the 4th instant, that a Circular Letter has been addressed from Dublin Castle to tire Divisional Magistrates throughout Ireland, which asks for—
Information ocncerning any particular portion of a sub-district which may be more disturbed, or in a more disaffected state than the rest, or in which there may be more marked improvement; any serious outrage deserving of special mention; evictions or oilier matters bearing upon the relations of landlord and tenant, and their bearing upon outrages and disturbances; boycotting and intimidation, National League, Labour League, or any organization for agitation;whether he will state the object of the Government in collecting this information; whether it is intended to place 1365 those Returns, when completed, upon the Table of the House; and, whether he has any objection, meantime, to state the information, under the several heads of this Circular, furnished by the magistrates responsible for the County of Monaghan?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I do not think it would be consistent with public policy to give an answer to any Question about what is reported to be a revelation of something alleged to be a confidential document issued to the police.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked, if the results of these inquiries were to be reported to those Resident Magistrates who had power to hold a secret Court of Inquiry and Court of Summary Jurisdiction, and who might thus have to sit on cases about which they had already received Reports?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, the Executive would take no action whatever which could by any possibility leave ground to think that Resident Magistrates would so act.
§ MR. SEXTONMay we understand that the Executive in Ireland will not induce any magistrate to commit himself by a Report to the Government on any matters in regard to which he may have to act judicially?
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)asked, would the Resident Magistrates be sent from one district to another, in. order that they might get information beforehand regarding the characters of persons they had to try.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Resident Magistrates are never required to give Reports of cases which they have to try.
§ An hon. MEMBER: Will they receive Reports about these persons?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThey never get any Report.