MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was aware that tithe distraints had been effected this year on four different occasions in the parishes of Llannor, 849 Llanaelhaiarn, Llandwrog, and Llanfairfechan, in Carnarvonshire, when, although large and vociferous crowds, numbering several hundreds, assembled on each occasion, no breach of the peace occurred; whether the Chief Constable of the county attributed the maintenance of order to the fact that he attended the distraints in each case unaccompanied with any police other than the local policeman, and that he exhorted the people in the Welsh language to preserve order; whether he was aware that the crowds gave cheers for and thanks to the Chief Constable for coming without a police force and for talking to them in Welsh; and whether he would recommend this precedent to the police authorities of Cardiganshire?
§ MR. STUART WORTLEYThe Secretary of State is informed by the Chief Constable of Carnarvonshire that upon three occasions during the months of December and January last sales for tithes were effected in the three first-named parishes in Carnarvonshire. In the fourth parish a settlement was made, and no sales took place. On each occasion a considerable crowd was present. The Chief Constable was present with one or two local policemen, and no serious disturbance took place. The Chief Constable attributes this to the absence of any large body of police, combined with the cordial support which he received from the farmers distrained upon, and from other persons present who had influence with the people, and also to the good-tempered demeanour of the gentleman who acted as auctioneer. The fact of his speaking Welsh also had the effect of making the people more ready to comply with any request he made. The Secretary of State has already stated to the House the steps taken by him with the view of recommending precedents of this kind to the Magistrates and police authorities in Cardiganshire.