§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland when the Return directed to be made by the 57th section of the Constabulary Act, 6 & 7 William IV., c. 13, will be laid upon the Table?
§ MR. JACKSONI find that the last Return under the Act referred to was laid on the Table in 1869; and from that time it appears to have been discontinued.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORThis, Mr. Speaker, is a case in which an Act of Parliament directed that a certain Return should be laid on the Table of the House, and by the authority of the Treasury that Return has been discontinued, and I desire to ask you, Sir, where I can obtain the Return? I know no authority to whom I can apply except you.
§ MR. JACKSONPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to supplement what I said just now. As the hon. Member is probably aware, the Treasury, under 32 & 33 Vict., has the power to discontinue any Return they consider unnecessary, and I understand they have done so by that Act.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that it had ordered the Return to be discontinued before that Act?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, no!
§ MR. A. O'CONNORWill the right hon. Gentleman cause a Return to be made for the last financial year?
§ MR. JACKSONOf course, that question would require to be considered. The Return was prepared by the Treasury, and was considered unnecessary, and we should have to consult them again. If the hon. Member desires any information with regard to any particular question, and if he thinks the matter of sufficient public importance to have a Return made, I shall endeavour to obtain it for him.