HC Deb 12 June 1907 vol 175 cc1440-1
MR. CHARLES CRAIG

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on the night of the 2nd instant Mr. Frank Shawe Taylor's farm at Kiltulla, county Galway, was raided and the cattle and sheep driven all over the country; whether he is aware that this farm was bought by Mr. Shawe Taylor under the Ashbourne Acts some years ago; and, seeing that eight other farms in the same parish were raided on the same night, and in view of the rapidly increasing number of cases of cattle driving, whether he will consider the desirability of framing rules directing the Estates Commissioners not to sell holdings on estates where intimidation exists.

MR. BIRRELL

On the morning of the 3rd instant the cattle were driven off the farms of Mr. Shawe Taylor and five other persons in the locality referred to. It is the fact that Mr. Shawe Taylor purchased his farm under the Ashbourne Acts. As regards the latter part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the Question of the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division on 14th May, † which reply I have since repeated on several occasions. See (4) Debates, clxxiv., 800.

MR. CHARLES CRAIG

May I ask if it is not a fact that another member of the Government has indicated that action is about to be taken by the Estates Commissioners in the direction of refusing to make sales of these farms to persons who have taken part in these unlawful assemblies?

*MR. SPEAKER

That is a Question of which notice should be given.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

May I ask whether, in any of the so-called cattle raiding cases, any person, or, indeed, any of the cattle, has received the slightest injury?

MR. BIRRELL

I would rather not go into that, but I am very glad to think that the cattle have not received injury.

MR. KILBRIDE

How many asses and donkeys have been driven off?