§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the police of Tullow and other stations in County Carlow were engaged recently for several days, sometimes as early as 2 o'clock a.m., in seizing the cattle and other effects of the cesspayers on decrees obtained by the barony constable, Mr. Berry, for the recovery of Railway Guarantee Tax; that Head Constable Bruen, having seized and impounded in Carlow a lot of cattle, sheep, and pigs, acted as auctioneer, and charged, in addition to the amount for which the stock were seized, fees which he said were incurred in making the seizures and also poundage; and whether it is with his knowledge and sanction that the police act as bailiffs and auctioneers in cases of this kind; and, if not, will he order that they shall not again be so engaged?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I did not receive notice of this question in time to enable me to obtain the necessary information.