§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)asked the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland a Question of which he had given him private Notice, and it was with reference to a Question that had been already put to him in the House—Whether it had been the practice of successive Governments, both Conservative and Liberal, to decline, when attention had been directed to the matter in the House of Commons, to enforce the law relating to lotteries in cases in which the objects of the promoters of the lotteries had been of a charitable nature; whether the object of the bazaar and drawing of prizes which were to take place at Swords, County of Dublin, on Sunday next, were of a charitable nature; and, if so, whether the usual course would be pursued in reference thereto?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: The object of the bazaar and drawing of prizes referred to is, as stated in the Question, of a charitable nature. The attention of the Government having been called to the matter as an alleged breach of the law, they are—as I have already stated to another hon. Member—being advised as to 1438 what steps, if any, ought to be taken. In dealing with the matter the Government will have regard to the course which has been usually followed in similar cases.
§ MR. CLANCYsaid, that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman had failed to answer the first part of the Question—whether it had been the practice of both the Conservative and Liberal Governments to decline to enforce the law in these cases?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI can hardly answer as to what has been the usual practice of previous Governments. I have already stated that the Government are inquiring and are being advised as to what has been hitherto done in reference to these matters, and they will be glad to act in accordance with the previous practice.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say why this law should be en-forced in England and not in Ireland?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANNo, Sir; I cannot.