Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he was aware that Mr. William Lowry, clerk of the Birr Union, King's County, presided at a special meeting of the South King's County executive of the United Irish League, held in the Catholic Young Men's Society, on Sunday, 21st 473 March, when a resolution was passed calling upon Irishmen to oppose the 11 months' grazing system; whether he was aware that at the meeting the Reverend Mr. Scanlan, of Shinrone, stated that the 11 months' system was a curse, and that no man or combination of men could stand two years against the League if the agitation was persistent and unrelenting; and whether a clerk to a union might attend United Irish League meetings for such purpose; and, if not, what action he proposed to take?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board have no information to show whether the facts are as alleged. They consider that clerks of unions should not take part on either side in political matters.
Captain CRAIGWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the clerk of the union, and tell him not to do so in future?
§ Mr. W. MOOREWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question about the speech delivered by this reverend, inflammatory firebrand?
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLHe is a far more respectable person than you.
§ Mr. BIRRELLA good many speeches of a kind of which I cannot approve are made in Ireland, and I cannot undertake to notice all of them.