§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary if his attention had been called to the evidence given before the resident magistrate and the county court judge at Athlone with reference to the driving of 1090 Mr. Mulock's cattle; whether he was aware that Head Constable Kyne swore on 19th May that the cattle were driven at a terrific pace, that they were much jaded and barely able to walk, and he declined to be responsible for them in consequence of their state; that the same witness swore on 10th June that the cattle were very badly driven; that Mr. Hetred, district inspector, swore on 19th May that the cattle were driven until some of them fell on the road, and that Acting Sergeant Griffin swore on 19th May that a number of women, all armed with sticks, rushed the cattle past him; and whether he would explain why, in these circumstances, the Executive refused to prosecute those concerned in the drive for cruelty to animals?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the head constable's evidence was to the effect stated in the question. An excited crowd drove the cattle before them in dusk and rain and no person could be identified as committing any definite act of cruelty. The district inspector was not examined as a witness, and Sergeant Griffin's evidence related to an occurrence earlier in the same day, when the cattle were not ill-treated or hurt in any way.