§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Cork County, N.E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that police constables have been and are daily engaged visiting the homes of tenants on the Kingston Estate, inquiring whether the tenants have agreed to purchase, if they are pleased with the terms, and the acreage, rent, and valuation of their farms, a note of the answers being taken down in writing; that they have also visited the estate office to ascertain the number and names of the tenants who have signed
† See (4) Debates, cxxxv., 1227‡ See page 794.968 agreements, and of those tenants who have refused to do so; and, if so, if he will state whether the police are acting under instructions by thus interfering in the negotiations and by exercising pressure on the tenants with a view of inducing acceptance of the agent's terms.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe hon. Member has not been accurately informed. It is true that the police made inquiries in a friendly manner of the character referred to, but all such inquiries were made from tenants who had actually signed agreements for the purchase of their holdings and after negotiations had closed. The police did not interfere with these negotiations, nor did they exercise any pressure on tenants as suggested. As the hon. Member is aware, there have been many demands for statistical information in respect of sales under the Act of 1903, and the returns prepared by the police have facilitated the work of meeting these demands.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDDees the right hon. Gentleman really think, with his knowledge of Ireland, that the police are the proper people to collect this information?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes. I think they are; and when I am asked to obtain information I must do my best to get it. The police sometimes afford the only means.
§ MR. CULLINAN (Tipperary, S.)But is not the information thus collected always coloured in accordance with the views of the Government?
§ MR. WYNDHAMNo, Sir.