Dr. ESMONDEI wish to bring forward a question in connection with the Irish police. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction in Ireland at present with some Government Departments. I understand in my Constituency at present the police are being used not as police but as bailiffs, and are being put into houses to take charge until the rent is paid. This is a question which must raise some considerable trouble and difficulty if something is not done to stop the police in Ireland acting as bailiffs. The town tenants in Ireland have suffered a great many grievances in the past, and many of them are now coming to a head, and it is very likely indeed that there may be a considerable agitation and considerable excitement in connection with the town tenants' movement in Ireland. I think it is most unfair to the people concerned that officials of the Government, in this case the police, should be brought in and used for work which they were never intended for. I think the police are perhaps the last people who ought to be used as ordinary bailiffs, and I hope some steps will be taken by the Irish Government to see that they do not use the police for what is practically a civil purpose.
Also there is considerable dissatisfaction about the Estates Commissioners. They do not seem to be making any effort to divide up estates. There are constituencies on which for four years the tenants have signed their agreements to take possession and there has been absolutely nothing done. I have been informed by the Government that nothing can be done until the beginning of the financial year, 1st April, 1912. I can assure the Attorney-General that there is a considerable amount of dissatisfaction. I speak for my own Constituency, and I believe in other parts of Ireland it is the same. This constant attempt to procrastinate and do nothing and to use soft words will, if continued, lead to considerable friction—friction which up to the present I have done my best to stop in the interests not only of the people, but of the Government. Really some attempt must be made to expedite matters and improve the machinery of the Estates Commissioners.
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Redmond Barry)I am sorry that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary is not here. If he had got notice that the last matter referred to by the hon. Member was to be raised, I am sure he would have been in his place at this moment to make a statement concerning it. No doubt the matter stated by the hon. Gentleman will be carefully taken into account. I am not in a position to say anything about it. With regard to the employment of the police in the execution of warrants for distress, the police do not act as bailiffs in the execution of High Court decrees which are usual in agrarian cases. It is their duty to protect those who execute these decrees, but as the hon. Member has pointed out it is no doubt the fact that as regards decrees of the summary courts the police have to act in execution of the warrants when they are addressed to them. It is absolutely within the discretion of the magistrates to address the warrants to them.
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI think not. It is entirely within the right of the magistrates to decide who are the persons to execute the decrees.
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYThe complainant has the right to nominate a person and the magistrates can either accept that person or address the warrants to the police, and they usually take the latter course. The police are unwilling to undertake the duty, but they have no option in the matter. They have no discretion. They are obliged to execute the warrants if they are addressed to them by the local magistrates, whereas when issued to bailiffs they do execute the decrees.
§ Mr. ANNAN BRYCEI should like to call the attention of the Government to the strong feeling in Scotland that some attempt should be made to pass land legislation for the country.
§ Mr. SPEAKERYou cannot discuss legislation on this Motion.
§ Question, "That this House do now adjourn until Tuesday, the 18th April," put, and agreed to.
§ Adjourned accordingly at Four minutes after Six o'clock.