§ MR. J. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg In ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if he can state how many Catholic and how many Protestant magistrates are in the polling district of Ballytrain, South Monaghan; if he is aware of any petitions from the Catholic inhabitants of the polling district of Ballytrain to have Catholic magistrates appointed; and, will he take steps to have the wishes of the petitioners carried out?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe Lord Chancellor is unable to state the number of magistrates in the polling district in question, but informs me there are ten magistrates attending the Ballybay Petty Sessions, by which this district appears to be mainly served. Of these magistrates, four are Roman Catholics, three belong to the Church of Ireland, two are Methodists, and one is a Presbyterian. The Lord Chancellor has received a communication in favour of one additional appointment to the magistracy in the locality, but, as the Ballybay Petty Sessions is well attended, he sees no necessity for an additional appointment at present.
§ MR. DALYasked, whether the right hon. Gentleman would not apply to the Lord Lieutenant for the information he required. The police of the district surely could supply the right hon. Gentleman with that information?
§ [No answer was given,]