MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he will direct the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary to abolish the use of the valise and what are known as marching order parades in the force, also the compulsory wear of leggings by the rank and file, and allow men (when required) on detachment duty to carry the blanket enclosed with the great coat in the coat straps; if not, will he see that the members of the force are supplied with these articles at the expense of the Exchequer or in the same way as their uniform and other appointments, and not compel the men to provide these things at their own expense?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWhen men of the Royal Irish Constabulary proceed on detachment duty the use of the valise is indispensable, as it contains a change of clothing, shirts, boots, &c., and, in fact, is to the policeman what a travelling bag or portmanteau is to the civilian. As regards parades in marching order, these are carried out in order to 1238 insure that the men shall turn out properly equipped, and are essential to the comfort and convenience of the men themselves. Leggings are required to be worn on outdoor duty between November and March inclusive, also on detachment duty. There is every reason to think that the wearing of leggings, particularly in wet weather and when men are absent from their stations, is conducive to their health and comfort. The Inspector General sees no reason for recommending any change in the existing arrangements in either of these respects, nor in regard to the carrying of the blanket which is strapped to the valise. From the formation of the Force the men have been required to provide valises and, since 1888, leggings at their own expense, and there appear to be no grounds for now defraying the cost of these articles out of public funds.
MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) if the Inspector General will prohibit the sale of manuals purporting to be books of instructions on drill and police duties by officers of the Force to their subordinates; (2) is he aware that every man under District Inspector Bain in his various districts is required to answer questions as they are given in his book, and that other district inspectors recommend and require their men to supply themselves with a copy of his book; (3) if recruits at the depô;t on joining are forced to purchase the book of Head Constable Smyth; and (4), if these books are worth having, will a copy be supplied to each station without expense to the men, like the code and other books?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Inspector General does not think it would be advisable to prohibit the sale of the manuals referred to, as their circulation, in his opinion, causes the men to be more efficient and to take a greater interest in their duties. The County Inspector of Limerick, in which Mr. Bain is stationed, reports that there is no foundation for the allegations in the second paragraph. Some of the officers may have expressed approval of the book, but there is no foundation for the suggestion that pressure has been put on the men to procure it. I am also informed that there is no foundation for 1239 the statement in the third paragraph of the question. There is no reason for supplying such unofficial publications to the men of the Force at the public expense.