§ MR. MINCH (Kildare, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Coustabulary at Athy, County Kildare, frame their summons under the Towns Improvement Act for offences committed in the town in their own names in a large number of cases, and not in the name of the Town Commissioners; whether the fines thus inflicted are diverted from being wholly applied in relief of the town rate, as only a small portion of them are so applied when the cases are brought forward in that way; and whether he will communicate with the Inspector General with a view of having this irregularity rectified?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. J. MORLEY,) New-castle-upon-TyneThe facts are as stated in the first and second paragraphs. The prosecution by the police in such cases was irregular and contrary to rule, unless of course the Town Commissioners refused to take proceedings; but it does not appear that the Commissioners did so refuse, and directions have been issued with a view to the avoidance of any similar mistake in future.