§ MR. DILLON (for Mr. DAVITT)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether it is in accordance with the regulations of 693 the Royal Irish Constabulary for a constable serving, but not permanently residing in a county, to bid for houses or farms which are set up for auction in such county; whether he is aware that a constable, M'Whirtor, has recently bid for and purchased a house in Cashel, county Tipperary, offering a larger amount for the property than that tendered by the occupant of the premises; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter?
§ MR. G. BALFOURThe Constabulary Regulations do not prohibit a member of the force from purchasing a house or farm, though if he purchased any such property in the county in which he was serving, the Regulations would not permit him to remain in that county. The constable named in the Question (Constable M'Whirtor) recently bid for a house at Cashel and was declared the purchaser. The occupant of the house did not, I am informed, make any bid for the premises.