§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the action of the Board in reducing the Celtic marks was taken after the receipt of any communication on the subject from any source; whether that communication, with the names of the signatories, will be made public; and, whether, before coming to a decision on the point, the Commissioners invited or considered any suggestions to the contrary?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that the Board, when fixing the rules and programme for 1897, had before them several communications relative thereto. The question was settled by the Board—a very representative body—only after full consideration, though they did not officially invite or consider any suggestions opposed to a reduction in the marks. Any communications addressed to the Board in this matter are departmental documents, which it would be unusual to publish as a Parliamentary Paper, and I see no sufficient reason for departing from the ordinary practice in the present instance.