§ MR. DANEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the persistent boycotting of certain tenants upon the estates of Lord 766 Massereene and Fethard, in the Counties of Meath and Louth, through the medium of the Irish National Federation; whether this boycotting has been extended to the transit of their cattle and goods by the Steamship Companies at Drogheda; whether he is aware that the proceedings of the Irish National Federation have been published and advocated in the columns of successive numbers of The Drogheda Independent newspaper; whether the tenants are now, and have been for some time past, under police protection; and whether, having regard to the statement by the Government that there is now no boycotting in Ireland, the Irish Government will now inquire into the circumstances, and consider whether, under the existing law, these tenants can be relieved from boycotting and molestation; and, if not, whether steps will be taken to put in force the provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is true that attempts have been made from time to-time in the direction referred to in the question, but I am informed by the local Police Authorities that there is no foundation for the statement that the persons mentioned are subjected to persistent boycotting. The Drogheda Steampacket Company have always carried cattle and goods for the new tenants and are doing so still, and no complaint has been made to the police that they have not given every facility to the new tenants for the conveyance of themselves, their cattle, and their goods. These tenants naturally receive special attention from the police, but none of them are constantly protected. The information supplied to me shows that they can transact their business without molestation, and that the police are able to deal under the ordinary law with anything likely to arise.