§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary in how many cases in Ireland since 1st January, 1906, had the procedure under the statute of Edward III. been resorted to, whereby a person acting on a public principle in an agrarian matter was brought, as a person of ill-fame, before a paid magistrate, who allowed no unpaid magistrate to adjudicate, and, without allowing the accused to produce a witness, ordered him to give security for good behaviour or go to prison; and whether he was aware that the statute mentioned was never resorted to in Great Britain in matters involving the assertion of a public principle?
§ Mr. REDMOND BARRYI am unable to state the number of cases brought under the statute in question during the last five and a-half years. The labour involved in the collection of the information would be out of all proportion to its value. Upon application to bind to the peace or to be of good behaviour the person against whom the application is made is not entitled to be examined or to call witnesses in his own behalf. I am not aware of the practice as regards the statute in Great Britain.