§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that some persons holding gun licences who reside in Beechwood, Roscommon, have been called upon by the police of that district, and presented with a document for signature, the contents of which they declined to disclose; whether he will state what the document contained; and whether this document is required to be universally signed by holders of gun licences; and if not, on what principle are selections made in Roscommon.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)It having been ascertained 1378 that in several instances persons who obtain licences to keep one description of firearm are in fact keeping and using another, the police at Beechwood, with a I view to prevent this practice and to check the official register of firearms, asked some persons in that district to give a written description of the weapons in their possession. Each person was presented with a slip of paper on which was written the words, "The gun in my possession is a—," a blank being left for a description of the gun to be completed by its owner. This is the only foundation for the suggestion in the question.