§ MR. M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, seeing that under the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill, it is proposed to give to two magistrates summary jurisdiction and a maximum power of inflicting six months' imprisonment with hard labour for offences under the White boy Acts, he will have the White boy Acts, or such portions of them as are to be incorporated in the proposed Bill, printed along with the Bill, or separately, and distributed to Members, in order that the House may know what these offences are?
§ THE CHIEF SECEETAEY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)It appears to me that the proposal of the hon. Member is not unreasonable, and I shall make inquiry to see if it can be conveniently carried out.
§ MR. W. H. JAMES (Gateshead)asked the right hon. Gentleman, whether it was not the case that previous to the passing of the Crimes Act in 1833, very elaborate Returns of this character and also giving the motive for these offences were laid on the Table of the House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURthought it was extremely probable; but he did not know that a precedent which appeared to have been ignored since 1833 was necessary to be followed in this case.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Forster issued a large Blue Book on the subject?
§ [No reply.]