§ MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helens)I bog to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the grounds on which the fines imposed for breaches of the fishery laws were reduced by the Irish Executive in the cases of William Leckey, of Cullybackey, whose fine of £4, imposed at Ballymena Petty Sessions on 6th December, 1901, for killing a spawning salmon, was subsequently reduced to £2: Thomas Judge, whose fine of £2, imposed at Maghera Petty Sessions on 28th December, 1901, for illegally killing a salmon, was subsequently reduced to 942 £1; and William Lyan, whose fine of £4, recently imposed at Newport, County Tipperary Petty Sessions, for spearing salmon, was subsequently reduced by the Lord Lieutenant to £1, with proportionate reduction of imprisonment; and whether he is aware that William Leckey and Thomas Judge were able to pay the full fine.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe fines were reduced, as stated, by the Lord Lieutenant and the Lords Justices in the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
§ MR. SETON-KARRasked if the remission of fines in such cases did not make it difficult for Boards of Conservators to institute prosecutions for breaches of the law.
§ MR. WYNDHAMsaid his hon. friend must allow him to adhere to the rule he had hitherto followed, not to express any opinion on the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked if the Chief Secretary, as the representative of the Executive Government, was not responsible for the exercise of the prerogative.