§ MR.M. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the establishment of a district registry for the issue of writs of summons in Belfast, whether his attention has been called to the report of the annual meeting of the Wholesale Merchants and Manufacturers' Association, held there on the 14th instant, which were unanimous in favour of the establishment of a registry at Belfast; and, whether, considering that there is such a district registry in almost every large town in England, he will now see if he can take steps to afford similar accommodation to the merchants and citizens of Belfast?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe report referred to has been received. A question almost identical with the present one was addressed to my right hon. Friend the Attorney General on the 3rd March. The Irish Government will be happy to consider any representations that may be made in reference to the matter, but legislation would be necessary to deal with it, and I cannot hold out any immediate hope that I will introduce a Bill assimilating the law in this respect in Ireland and England.