§ MR. J. DEVLINTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement made in Belfast police court, on behalf of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, as to wholesale larcenies having taken place recently on the quays, for the policing of which the Commissioners are responsible; whether he can state the number of police under the control of the Harbour Commissioners and the annual cost of the same; and whether he will direct the attention of the Commissioners to the necessity of taking proper precautions to safeguard the property of persons using the quays.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I am informed by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners that they are unaware of any statement having been made on their behalf as to the number of larcenies on their quays. They state that the number of policemen employed by them is sixty-eight, and the annual cost £4,868 17s. 3d., and that during the twelve months ending 31st May last there were 113 arrests for larceny.