§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the complaint made at the meeting of the Clogher Board of Guardians, on the 4th March, by Mary M'Elmeel, that Rate-collector Cuthbertson never called or demanded rates from her until he appeared, accompanied by "grippers," and assaulted her, seized her cow, and charged her £2 12s. 9d. rates, and 5s. costs; what notice has been taken of the conduct of this rate collector; and will any compensation be granted to M'Elmeel?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt appears that the collector called on Mrs. M'Elmeel without notice, and demanded the rates due by her. As payment was not made, he succeeded, after meeting with some resistance, in seizing a cow and driving it away. The following day Mrs. M'Elmeel appears to have thought better of her refusal, and paid the rates and costs, getting back her cow. Her complaint to the Guardians on the subject was marked read. No notice will be taken of Collector Cuthbertson's action by the Local Government Board, as he appears to have acted strictly in accordance with the law, which in Ireland empowers a collector, on refusal of payment of rales, to distrain forthwith any goods found on the premises of the person in default, without serving any notice whatever. No compensation will be granted to Mrs. M'Elmeel, or to any other ratepayer, who incurs costs by withholding payment of rates. The Guardians have called attention to the unsatisfactory state of the collection in this district, and as the collection must be closed by the appointed day, Mr. Cuthbertson is acting properly in enforcing payment by seizure in all cases where the rates are refused.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAre not these distraints to be levied by the respectable members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and not by "grippers"? What are "grippers"?