§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that of the detachment of the West African Constabulary now attached to the depôt of the Royal Irish Constabulary, in the Phœnix Park, Dublin, for the purpose of instruction in 643 Irish police methods, the sergeants are admitted to the membership of the sergeants' mess of the Royal Irish Constabulary, while the officer is not admitted to the privileges of the Royal Irish Constabulary officers' mess; and whether, having regard to the desire for promoting unity amongst various nationalities in the British Empire, any steps will be taken to admit this gentleman to the officers' mess of the Royal Irish Constabulary?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe sergeants of the West African Police, to whom reference is made, have access to the Royal Irish Constabulary sergeants' mess room at the depot, though they do not take their meals there. The Assistant Superintendent of the West African detachment does not mess with the depôt officers, nor do I think, having regard to the amount of his pay, which is comparatively very small, that he would consider it a privilege to have to defray the cost of messing with the officers.
§ MR. MACNEILLasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that this unfortunate man had to leave the depôt and to go two miles to get his dinner?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURHe resides a little over a quarter of a mile from the depôt.