§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, at the recent Petty Sessions at Tulla, County Clare, a farmer named Quinlivan applied for a licence to carry a gun; whether the presiding Magistrate, Captain Keogh, R.M., stated that he felt certain Quinlivan did not want the gun for illegal purposes, but, at the same time, he would not grant the licence to Mr. Quinlivan, nor would he grant a similar licence in future to any applicant who was not willing to take an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen; and, if so, whether a Magistrate has any legal right to impose such a test?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Magistrate in course of conversation, intending to satisfy himself as to Quinlivan's fitness to hold a licence, asked him if he was willing to take the oath. He laid down no principle such as that suggested in the question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes.