§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the urban council of Athlone protesting against prosecutions at the instance of the local police against persons for allowing their horses and carts to remain outside the doors of business premises, particularly on market and fair days; and whether in this matter he will instruct the police to have regard to the wishes of the local representative body.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The town clerk of Athlone has recently written asking that the owners of carts standing outside business premises in the town should not be interfered with by the police. The same official, however, had written a short time previously calling attention to the fact that a certain street was habitually obstructed by carts, and asking that the police should take steps in the matter. It is the duty of the police to secure that the thoroughfare is not obstructed, and the Inspector-General informs me that in this case the police have performed the duty with 680 moderation. It has always been the desire of the police to facilitate the public and the traders in every legitimate way, but they cannot permit constant obstruction by carts left in the street without persons in charge of them.