§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the procedure of arresting persons charged with cattle-driving and bringing them before a single resident magistrate out of petty sessions, with a view to their being bound over to future good behaviour, under the statute of Edward III., has been adopted in pursuance of instructions issued by the Executive Government; what are the circumstances under which the practice of proceeding in such cases by summons was departed from; on what date were the instructions referred to issued; and will he state whether the effect of the altered procedure has been a diminution in the number of cattle-drives.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. CHERRY,) Liverpool, ExchangeThe procedure referred to in the Question has been adopted for many years, and long before the present Government came into office, by the police in Ireland in the case of agrarian disturbances. The police in this as in other matters act under the instructions of the Executive Government. No special instructions were issued as regards cases of cattle-driving, but as in other cases, instructions 286 from time to time are given with regard to each case. As there has been no recent alteration in either the practice or procedure, it is unnecessary for me to answer the latter part of the hon. Member's Question.
§ MR. LONSDALEOn what date were the instructions issued?
§ MR. CHERRYNo instructions of a general character were issued, but as cases arose the Central Government sent instructions to the police.