MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether a licence to carry a gun has been refused by Mr. Orr, R.M., to Mr. Daniel Casey, of Grawn Kilmacthomas; what are the grounds of such refusal; whether he is aware that Mr. Orr, R.M., considers it his duty in all cases when applied to for a gun licence to ascertain whether there is a possibility of the applicant, in the view of local landlords and land agents, using the gun to shoot game, even though the applicant would become entitled to obtain a game licence on first obtaining the magistrate's licence; and whether he will inform Mr. Orr that he has no justification for refusing such an application on any grounds other than such as relate to the peace of the district, and that the preservation of game for the benefit of a limited class is not part of his duty.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that the fact is as stated in the first part of the Question. The power of issuing licences under the Peace Preservation Act is vested in the resident magistrate, and it would be contrary to practice to state in this House the grounds of refusal in a particular case. I think it right, however, to state that Mr. Orr informs me that the question of the preservation of game does not in any way influence his decision in such cases, and that he makes no inquiry from this point of view. All resident magistrates 152 are made aware of the fact that the Act was passed for the preservation of life and property and not for the protection of game.