§ MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is true that out of 81 magistrates in County Fermanagh there are only four Catholics; whether the Catholics are in a considerable majority in the population of the county; and, whether the Government intend to take any steps to remove the disparity which exists between the number of Catholic and Protestant magistrates?
§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that Question, I beg to ask whether the Government intend to take any steps to hand over the bulk of the property, the intelligence, and the respectability of the Protestants of—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order !
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, the first paragraph in the Question was correct. The proportion of Roman Catholics to Protestants in the county was as 56 to 50. When gentlemen who professed the religious creed of the majority of the population in any county in Ireland were possessed of the necessary qualifications for the Commission of the Peace, the Lord Chancellor was always especially anxious to consider favourably their appointment.