§ MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. James Harkness, of Nenagh, North Tipperary, by trade a gunsmith, made application recently to the resident magistrate there for a licence to sell arms and ammunition, and that such application was refused; and whether, in view of the fact that there are only 915 two licences for the sale of arms and ammunition in the district, and practically no one engaged in the repairing of arms, he will explain why this man has been prohibited from carrying on his trade, at which up to this he has been engaged as manager for his mother, lately deceased.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have already given this matter my personal consideration in consequence of communications privately received from the hon. Member. The authority to issue a licence to sell arms and ammunition is vested by law in the resident magistrate of the district. There are already two licensed vendors of arms in Nenagh, one of whom executes repairs, and these in his opinion, confirmed as it is by the local police, are ample for the requirements of the district.
§ MR. P. J. O'BRIENWhy is not this man permitted to carry on his legitimate trade?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have said that the police think two licensed vendors in Nenagh to be sufficient.
§ P J. O'BRIENI do not think so, and shall take an earl opportunity of calling attention to this scandalous state of affairs.