§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) will he explain why a district inspector, a head constable, a mounted constable, and two protection huts are still maintained in connection with the Massereene estate; (2) what is the annual cost of this establishment; and (3) whether any outrage has been committed in connection with the Massereene evicted farms?
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURThe police arrangements referred to in the first paragraph are necessary for the efficient protection of new tenants on the Massereene estate. It has been found practicable to make a substantial reduction in the number of police employed on this duty on the estate since the adoption of special protective measures some years ago. Overt acts of outrage, as well as acts of boycotting and intimidation, have been committed from time to time in connection with the occupation of evicted farms on the estate, and many more would doubtless have been committed were it not for the supervision exercised by the police and the protection given to the persons and property of the new tenants. The annual cost of the police referred to in the Question amounts to about £1,436, no portion of which is charged to the district.