§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as reported in the newspapers, that at the recent Wexford Quarter Sessions, Judge Darley was presented by the Sub-Sheriff with a pair of white gloves, there being no criminal business to go before him, and that the Judge congratulated the Grand Jury on the peaceable state of the county, and stated that in other parts of the county he had also received white gloves for the same reason; whether the districts referred to are districts in which the National League has been suppressed, or which have been proclaimed by the Lord Lieutenant; and, if so, whether he will consider the propriety of withdrawing the proclamations of these districts; and whether he will cause a Return to be presented to Parliament, showing the number of cases during. the past year and a-half in which Judges have been so presented with white gloves on account of the absence of crime?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)It is not the case that Judge Darley was presented with white gloves at the recent Wexford Quarter Sessions. As a matter of fact, there were criminal cases to be 1225 tried. It appears that at New Ross, the County Court Judge was presented with white gloves, and he congratulated the Grand Jury on the then peaceable state of the county. The hon. Member seems to exaggerate the significance of this event; since the number of criminal cases tried at Quarter Sessions depends not merely on the amount of crime in the district, but also on the number of cases which fall to be tried by other tribunals.
§ MR. CONYBEAREThe right hon. Gentleman has not replied to the Question whether the district is proclaimed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWexford is proclaimed under certain sections of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act.