§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary whether he will follow the precedent of one of his predecessors in office by remitting the tax of over Is. in the £ which has to be met by the ratepayers of county Galway, most of whom have too much to do in paying their ordinary debts, seeing that this tax has been imposed upon them for the upkeep of an extra force of police for which there never was any necessity?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no precedent for the remission of the extra police tax in such cases as that of county Galway, nor is there any justification for the statement that the charge was imposed without necessity.
§ Mr. JOHN O'DONNELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police tax was remitted in West Mayo about ten years ago?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt was remitted in certain cases because the law officers advised that the charges were illegal.