HC Deb 21 March 1906 vol 154 cc357-8
MR. FLYNN (Cork Co., N.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education (Ireland) received a memorial from the parents of children attending the national school, Dromahane, Mallow, in August 1905, complaining of the frequent absence from the school of the teacher, Mr. T. Mullane, in connection with repeated prosecutions of Mrs. O'Ragan, an evicted tenant, who has been sentenced to two terms of imprisonment; and, if so, what reply was sent by the Commissioners; and whether, in view of the ill-feeling excited in the locality by this land dispute, the Commissioners will make representation to the teacher, with a view to submitting the case to arbitration, as suggested by the school manager, Father Shinnick, and others.

Year ended. Colony. Expenditure on Colonial forces and works and armaments. Contributions to Imperial garrison and Navy.
Military. Naval. Military. Naval.
£ £ £ £
30th June, 1904 Canada 814,329 — 22,600 —
30th June, 1904 Australia 615,758 43,673 — 196,226
31st March, 1905 New Zealand 234,469 742 — 40,742
30th June, 1905 Cape of Good Hope 229,786† — — 50,000
30th June, 1904 Natal 341,016‡ — 4,000 25,628
† Exclusive of expenditure for Cape Mounted Police (£343 14s. 6d.).
‡ Inclusive of reserve and district police (£216,762).

Later information can probably be obtained in about a week, by telegraphing, if the right hon. Member thinks this necessary.

(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that on the 30th August, 1905, they received from some of the parents of the pupils a memorial calling attention to Mr. Mullane's connection with land disputes. The Commissioners referred the memorial to the senior inspector for inquiry, and, upon consideration of his report, they decided to take no action in the matter. There has been no further correspondence, and the Commissioners have no knowledge of the suggested arbitration referred to in the Question.