§ * MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a Newry magistrate, Mr. Todd, issued a licence to a Newry man to sell intoxicating drinks, on 14th July, at Scarva, near Banbridge, county Down, on the occasion of the usual demonstration there, and that, although the promoters of the meeting were anxious to prevent the sale of such drink, and the police warned the holder of such licence not to sell, he persisted in doing so; and, whether a prosecution will be instituted against the drink seller and the conduct of the magistrate referred to the consideration of the Lord Chancellor?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe action of the magistrate was irregular in signing a consent for a licence to sell at a place outside the Pettty Sessions district in which he usually acted, but as there is no proof that the publican acted in bad faith a prosecution cannot, on the authority of an English case, be sustained. The attention of the Lord Chancellor will be directed to the action of the magistrate.