§ MR. HARRIS (Galway, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it be true that Mr. Patrick Larkin was appointed rate collector by the Portumna Board of Guardians on March 31 last, and that the Local Government Board refused to sanction his appointment; and, whether the reasons assigned for such refusal were that he had taken part in an assembly at his father's door, and that he had spoken harshly to Constable Clemens, who followed Mr. D. Crilly, M.P., into his (Mr. Larkin's) father's house; and, if so, Whether, having regard to the light character of the offence for which Mr. Larkin was held to bail, the Local Government Board will withdraw their opposition to his appointment?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)My reply to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. Upon the matter coming before the Local Government Board, it was found that this man had, in 1886, been convicted of being one of a party charged with assaulting persons, and he was bound over for six months; again, on the 12th of March last, he was put under a rule of bail for 12 months for using violent and abusive language towards a police sergeant in the discharge of his duty. In these circumstances, the Local Government Board are of opinion that he is a person who should not be entrusted with the office, and they decline, therefore, to sanction the appointment.