HC Deb 29 August 1895 vol 36 c1131
MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, could he explain on what ground a gun licence was refused by the resident magistrate to Mr. Thomas J. Ambrose, of Ardagh, County Limerick, for farm use?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

Following the example of my predecessor in similar cases, I must decline to state the reasons which actuated the licensing officer in refusing to issue an arms licence to Mr. Ambrose. The discretion of granting such licences is vested by law in the licensing officer, and I have satisfied myself that in withholding a licence in this particular case he exercised his discretion in a reasonable manner.