§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether any attempt will be made during this Session of Parliament to provide a remedy obviating the discharging boys at 16 years of age from the Baltimore Industrial School; whether the suggestion of their detention until the age of 18 has been frequently and strongly advocated in the reports of the Inspector of Reformatories and Industrial Schools in Ireland; whether the practice of sending boys to learn practical work on the sea under 14 years of age has been found successful; and, whether the Government will undertake to provide some remedy dealing with the subject?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is true that the Inspector of Reformatory and Industrial Schools has recommended the detention of boys who desire to follow a seafaring life until they reach the age of 18 years. No boys under the age of 14 are sent to sea in the fishing boats belonging to the School. Legislation would be required to extend the 778 period of detention as proposed, and I am not able to give any undertaking to deal with the matter during the present Session.