HC Deb 06 July 1904 vol 137 cc795-7
MR. KOCHE (Galway, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in August or September, 1902, the Clanricarde tenants at Derrygoolan, county Galway, refused to allow strangers or poachers to trespass on their lands in pursuit of game, those tenants being in possession of their holdings for many years as tenants from year to year, and consequently the owners of the game rights on their farms; that on the 12th August, 1903, the same tenants again refused to allow strangers or poachers to shoot over their lands, although those outsiders were accompanied by police as a protection force; and whether, in view of the fact that no action has been taken since autumn, 1902, either by the landlord, Lord Clanricarde, or anybody else, to contest the tenants' right to the game on their holdings, a police protection force will be refused to any party endeavouring to shoot over these lands, to whom the tenants have refused permission.

MR. WYNDHAM

I am not informed of the particulars of events which the hon. Member states took place in 1902–1903. The attendance of police on such occasions is solely to prevent serious breaches of the peace, and is not to prevent any person entitled to a legal right from asserting it in a lawful manner. If the tenants are the aggressors and remove the so-called strangers, the latter can proceed civilly or criminally for assault. If the so-called strangers are the aggressors, then the tenants can proceed civilly before the County Court or before the magistrates for trespass in pursuit of game, and thus have the legal rights of the respective parties determined in a Court of Law. I cannot and ought not to pronounce an opinion as to the rights of the respective parties, being, as I am, in ignorance of the nature of the contract of tenancy between the landlords and tenants.

MR. KILBRIDE

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that these tenants are tenants from year to year and were so previously to the passing of the Land Act of 1881?

MR. WYNDHAM

No.

MR. KILBRIDE

Will you inquire from the police if the statements in my Question are correct, and whether, also an offer of 1s. per head has been made to the tenants for every bird killed?

In reply to Mr. ROCHE,

MR. WYNDHAM

said the police would only go to the place if there was reason to believe that there might be a breach of the peace.

MR. KILBRIDE

What does the right hon. Gentleman think would be a lawful and legitimate protest under these circumstances?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!