§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the law in regard to the admission of children to industrial schools, as disclosed in the case of Anne Barnett, tried before Mr. Justice Holmes at the recent Cork Assizes, he will consider the desirability of making such alteration as will prevent any repetition on the steps taken by the Head Constable at Queenstown to secure the admisson of children to an industrial school?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThere can be no doubt that committals to industrial schools are not infrequently made contrary to the spirit of the law, but the fault appears to lie rather with the administration of the law than with the law itself. Such a case as that referred to in the Question is of rare occurrence in connection with a constabulary officer; but it is to be feared that children are too frequently sent out with instructions to beg, in order that the magistrates may be induced to commit them to an industrial school. Apart from this particular case, the matter has already engaged my attention, and a circular was recently issued to magistrates sitting in Petty Sessions, pointing out the advisability of adjourning applications for committal to industrial schools pending the necessary inquiries as to the merits of the case.