§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to statements made by Mr. Fletcher Moore, D.L., when presiding at Blessington Petty Sessions; on the 16th of May, to the effect that the Blessington magistrates had on the 4th of April refused to grant a licence to the canteen at the Kilbride Camp, county Wicklow, on grounds considered by the magistrates to be adequate and reasonable, and that subsequently the order for the licence was signed and granted by two magistrates, namely, Sir Henry Cochrane, who resides in Bray, a long way outside the Blessington district, and by Mr. James Shanks, who is not a magistrate for the county Wicklow; and, if so, will he say what action does he intend to take in the matter.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe issue of a canteen licence is regulated by Section 174 of the Army Act, 1881, which provides that it may be granted by any two justices of the peace "within their respective jurisdictions." am advised that each of the two justices who sign the order granting a canteen licence must be a justice for, and have jurisdiction in, the county in which it is intended to hold the canteen. In the present instance, one of the two gentlemen who signed the order was not so qualified, and the order made was, in the circumstances, invalid. I have so informed my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for War.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORHave either or both of these gentlemen been in the habit of supplying mineral waters to the camp?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have no information on that point.
§ *MR. CULLINANIs it not the case that under similar circumstances some years ago Mr. James Byrne, of Wallstown Castle, county Cork, was deprived of the commission of the peace for signing a licence outside his district?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! notice must be given of that.