§ MR. DEASY (Mayo, W.)said, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question of which he had given him private Notice—Whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been called to a private inquiry by the Local Government Board in Westport with reference to the system of free emigration in the County of Mayo, and the practices alleged against Mr. R. Vesey Stoney, of Rosturk Castle, the Chairman of the Committee for carrying out the free emigration scheme; and, whether the right hon. Gentleman will immediately direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the conduct of Mr. Stoney as a magistrate and deputy lieutenant, and have him prosecuted for his malpractices?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.), in reply, said, the inquiry was instituted by his directions to investigate certain alleged irregularities in the Emigration Act; and as the inquiry was not yet finished, he thought it would be unfair to take any action until the Report was before him.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked, when the right hon. Gentleman would be able to give the House full information on the subject?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid, the time did not rest with him, but with the gentleman conducting the inquiry.