§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will ascertain from the police and Petty Sessions clerks in Ireland the number of persons who were arrested for agrarian offences during the past twelve months and brought before a single resident magistrate out of Petty Sessions, with a view to their being bound over to future good behaviour under the Act of Edward III.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.I have already informed the hon. Member that it would not be possible to give this Return without communicating with every Petty Sessions district in Ireland. The utility of the Return would not be commensurate with the labour involved in preparing it.
§ MR. BARRIEDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that it is detrimental to the public interest to get the information?
§ MR. BIRRELLNot at all. I will make inquiry as to the amount of labour it would impose, and if it can be done it shall. But I can make no promise until I find out.