§ MR. DAVITT (Mayo, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any reports have reached the constabulary headquarters in Dublin relating to the riotous behaviour in Adare and Croom, County Limerick, on Sunday last, arising out of meetings which were held on that day in these places; will he explain why the supporters of Lord Dunraven were permitted by the police in Croom to molest persons in the streets who were supposed to be supporters of the Labour candidate, Mr. Coleman; and whether steps will be taken to prevent the police from taking sides on occasions of this kind during the Local Government contests now going on in Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe reply to the first paragraph is in the negative. There was no riotous behaviour or disturbance of any kind in either Adare or Croom on the date mentioned, and at neither of these places were the supporters of either of the candidates 1268 molested in any way. As regards the last paragraph, there is already a rule in the Constabulary Code prohibiting members of the force from taking sides on the occasion of elections. The sole duty of the police on such occasions is that of preserving the public peace.