§ SIR GEORGE FARDELL (Paddington, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on 10th May, 1908, and again on a later date, cattle-drives took place at Taumagh farm, County Sligo, in the midst of the country where the anti-ranching campaign of the United Irish League is in full swing, off the property of Dr. Duke, who has nothing to do with the eleven months system, and another drive of grazing cattle off the lands of Reask, near Boyle, on Tuesday, 26th May last; and will he state what action the police have taken or propose to take.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The dates are not quite correctly stated, but it is the fact that in the months of May and June several cattle-drives have taken place from farms the property of Dr. Duke. In each case the cattle have been found uninjured and returned to the farms. Some of the animals were the property of Dr. Duke, and others belonged to farmers who had 336 taken grazing for periods of six months. The offenders were not discovered. The police forces of Counties Sligo and Roscommon have been considerably strengthened with the object of preventing cattle-drives, and a special police hut has been established at Ross for the protection of grazing farms, including two belonging to Dr. Duke.