§ Mr. T. L. CORBETTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the statement in the précis of police reports for January that combinations against the payment of rent exist on certain estates in the counties of Mayo, Galway, and Cork, if he will state what is the total number of estates throughout Ireland on which rent is being withheld by tenants with a view to compel the owners to sell their properties?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe précis referred to reproduces the substance of all references to the withholding of rent contained in the county inspectors' confidential reports for 34 January last. It is not the duty of the police to make inquiries as to the withholding of rent, except in so far as the matter affects, or is likely to affect, the peace of the district, and I assume that any such cases are referred to in the reports in question.