§ MR. PATRICK M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) what expense has been incurred in sending extra police from Dublin to Sligo with street preachers; (2) can he state from what source the expenses of those police are to be met; and (3), is he aware that the Sligo Corporation have resolved to resist the imposition and exaction of any tax to meet the expenses of the extra police, and that the County Sligo Grand Jury have no power since the passing of the Sligo Borough Improvement Act, 1869, to assess or levy a tax upon the borough of Sligo for such a purpose?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe total expense entailed in dispatching police from Dublin to Sligo on occasions of open-air preaching has been £1,213 13s. 9d. The expenses have been defrayed out of the Constabulary Vote, but claims have been, or will be made, for repayment from local rates of a portion of this sum, amounting to £206 16s. 9d. I am not aware that the Sligo Corporation have resolved to resist the imposition and exaction of any tax to meet the expenses of the extra police necessary for the maintenance of public order. I am advised that the rate can be levied either by the Corporation, or, in their default, by the Grand Jury.
§ MR. BERNARD COLLERY (Sligo, N), asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the police were sent to 499 Sligo in opposition to the express wish of all sections of the community?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThat is possible; but it is the absolute duty of the Government to maintain law and order, and law and order could not be maintained without the dispatch of these extra police.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Is it any part of the duty of the Government to see that psalm-singing is carried on in Sligo?
§ [No answer was given.]