HC Deb 24 July 1907 vol 178 cc1587-9
MR. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Kanturk Board of Guardians on the 10th instant, again protesting against the extra police tax levied in the Newmarket or northern portion of the union, and stating that as an excuse for the prolongation of this heavy tax on the ratepayers the constabulary authorities allege the necessity of the maintenance of a protection hut on the farm of Owen Daly, and that if possession of this farm, which was purchased by MR. Daly through the Recorder of Cork East Riding, and the purchase money-paid over by him to MR. Curry, court registrar, nearly two years ago, be handed over to him, any necessity for the maintenance of the hut will be at once removed; whether he will make inquiry as to why possession of the farm is not given to this purchaser without further delay; whether he will state what portion approximately of the free force of police of Cork County is allocated to the Kanturk and Newmarket districts under normal circumstances; and what other extraordinary circumstances (if any) exist to justify the continuance of the extra police tax.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. BIRRELL, Bristol, N.)

I have received the resolution referred to in the Question. I am informed that MR. Daly is in actual possession of the greater part of the farm which he has purchased, but that he has not yet got a legal assignment of the farm. The matter is at present before the Courts, and the Government have no power to interfere. About one-sixth of the free force of County Cork E. R. is usually stationed in the Kanturk and Newmarket districts. The police authorities inform me that the three extra policemen for whom a charge is made on local authorities are required for the protection of MR. Daly. There is no other necessity for extra police in the localty.

MR. FLYNN

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that this man paid £318, the savings of a lifetime, to the registrar who was the representative of the County Court Judge, and the Government having now obtained a verdict against the sureties, would the money be refunded?

MR. BIRRELL

replied that of course it was very unfortunate that the court registrar should disappear with the funds, and measures had been taken to recover the amount from his sureties, but these proceedings occurred in Court and the Government had no control over them. He quite agreed it was a very great hardship.

MR. FLYNN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was not a single criminal ease in the whole district at the last quarter sessions nor at the assize, and that being so, are the constabulary authorities entitled to quarter extra police?

MR. SPEAKER

Notice should be given of that Question.

MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)

Could the right hon. Gentleman say when these police had been transferred from one portion of the county to another, and if they were so transferred why should Kanturk and the other council pay extra for them?

MR. BIRRELL

I must have notice of that; the point upon my mind is that the police are necessary for the protection of MR. Daly.

MR. FLYNN

asked whether the right hon Gentleman had seen that there was no criminal business at the last session or assize.

MR. BIRRELL

replied that his last words were that there was no other necessity for the presence of the police than the protection of MR. Daly.

MR. O'SHEE

asked the right hon. Gentleman to look into the whole question of the allocation of the police force.