§ MR. HOOPER (Cork, S.E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that, at the last Summer Assizes, the sum 163 ordered to be levied off the County of Cork in respect of extra police for the half-year was over £3,400; whether he is aware that, at the same Assizes, the following Resolution was adopted by the County Cork Grand Jury—
With reference to the Resolution passed at the County at Large Sessions on the subject of the charge for extra police in this county, the Grand Jury are of opinion that the very large amount charged for that subject is, to a great extent, an useless and extravagant expenditure, as it does not lead to the detection of crime.The force required may be much smaller, but constituted altogether differently for detective purposes.The state of Kerry, our adjoining county, overrun with police, and scarcely a crime detected, affords the strongest proof of the necessity for a change in the direction we have suggested.Proposed by J. W. Payne,Seconded by John E. Barrett.R. U. Penrose Fitzgerald, Foreman.Whether, in the last quarter, the number of agrarian crimes in that county fell to 14; and, under the circumstances, whether steps will be taken by Government to relieve the taxpayers of the county of the present heavy impost in respect of extra police?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)The charge in question was, in round numbers, £3,400; and I also understand that the Resolutions referred to were duly passed at the Summer Assizes. But the necessity for the continuance of the extra force is now greater than it was then, in consequence of the excitement created by attempts to enforce the Plan of Campaign; and I cannot, at present, relieve the taxpayers of the county of this additional cost.