§ MR. W. O'BRIEN (Cork)I wish to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is any foundation for the report that a police force has gone to Acbill Island to assist in the collection of the seed rate, and, if so, whether, under the present peculiarly distressing circumstances, he will advise the Lord 1649 Lieutenant to exercise his power to postpone the repayment of the loan?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is true that application has been made for a force of police to protect the rate collector while engaged collecting some £400 of arrears of rate due in Achill Island under the Seed Loans Act. Under the circumstances, in view of the distressed condition of the island, I have felt it my duty to advise the Lord Lieutenant that the time for the repayment of those arrears should be extended until September next, and therefore I presume the collector engaged by the Board of Guardians will not go any further. In any case, the police will not assist in the collection by protecting the collector.