CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Finucane, Estates Commissioner, gave evidence on 9th November before the Congested Districts Board Commission to the effect that, if residents in those districts to which it was suggested that planters should be transferred resented such migration, he would be prepared to place the planters so transferred under police protection, and that there were morally greater grounds for doing so than in the case of a boycotted landlord; and, if so, will he say whether these, statements were made with the sanction of the Government.
§ MR. BIRRELLI have now seen Mr. Finucane's evidence to which the Question refers. Mr. Finucane appears to have expressed the opinion that migrants for whom the Estates Commissioners might provide farms on untenanted land purchased for the purpose should receive police protection in the event of local opposition. Of course the evidence of Mr. Finucane, and of all other witnesses before the Commission, was given of their own motion and without consultation with the Government.