§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to a tabulated statement of agrarian crime in Limerick, Cork, Clare, and Kerry, from 1887 to 1889, both inclusive, which was published in the Cork Constitution of the 13th instant; whether he can say if this statement has been furnished from official sources by Divisional Commissioner Turner, or his subordinates, or by his or their authority; whether, with a view to testing the accuracy of the statement that 93 evicted farms were taken by new tenants in the counties above named during the year 1889, he will name the localities in which the farms alleged to be so taken are situated; and, whether it is any part of the duties of Divisional Magistrates or their subordinates to supply the Press with statistics?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Divisional Commissioner informs me that the tabular statement was prepared by himself personally, from figures which have been officially published from time to time. I must entirely decline to particularise evicted farms which have subsequently been taken. It is no part of the duty of Divisional Commissioners to furnish statistics to the Press; neither is it contrary to their duty, unless such communications are injurious to the public service.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman arrange to instruct the Officials of the Crown in Ireland to certify information of this kind with their names?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think it is necessary to lay down any general rule. It is not the practice.