§ MR. D. KILBRIDE (Galway, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that at a recent Petty Sessions held in Kenmare, when three men were fined £5 each for poaching salmon, and two others £5 each for game trespass, Mr. Warden, of Sneem, was one of the presiding Justices; how often has Mr. Warden attended the Kenmare Petty Sessions; when he so attended previous to this occasion; whether his usual Petty Sessions district is Sneem, 16 miles from Kenmare; whether it is in accordance with the recognised rule that Magistrates should go outside their usual district to adjudicate in special cases; whether there are a sufficient number of Justices of the Peace in the Kenmare district; and whether 567 Mr. Warden's conduct will be brought under the notice of the Lord Chancellor?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURKenmare and Sneem are adjoining Petty Sessional districts, and at the time of Mr. Warden's appointment to the Commission of the Peace he was authorised to attend Petty Sessions in both districts. He was clearly within his right, therefore, if he adjudicated at Kenmare Sessions on the date mentioned. I have no information as to the number of his attendances at these Sessions, though I understand he has lately confined his attendance mainly to Sneem. I have no reason to believe that the number of Justices in Kenmare district is insufficient. The reply to the concluding paragraph is in the negative.
§ MR. KILBRIDEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that Mr. Warden has not attended the Petty Sessions in Kenmare for the last three years?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir; that may be the fact, but I was not aware of it.