§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that five warrants for the arrest of persons under separate charges of deserting their families preferred against them by the Mountmellick Board of Guardians, and granted upon sworn informations, have been lodged with the police sergeant at Mountmellick since the 30th May, 1902, and that none of those warrants have been executed; and will he explain what is the reason for this action on the part of the constabulary?
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) Three such warrants were received by the constabulary since the date mentioned. The expenses incidental to the arrest of persons in such circumstances are a statutory charge against the guardians. The guardians are unwilling to defray the expenses attending the execution of two of the warrants, the families having left the union. In the third case the defendant has absconded and cannot be found.