HC Deb 05 November 1918 vol 110 cc1933-4
90 and 91. Mr. O'LEARY

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether the local magistrates who are responsible for the peace of the county were consulted before proclaiming the West Riding of the county of Cork a special military area; if not, on whose advice was the riding so proclaimed; and whether the riding has been for years practically free from crime and one of the most peaceable in Ireland?

(2) Whether he can state the reasons for prohibiting fairs and markets being held in the Bantry and Castletown Bere districts; whether he is aware that the consequence will be that thousands of farmers cannot dispose of their surplus produce and stock before the winter, and that they will thus suffer a financial loss; and that valuable foodstuff will deteriorate and be perhaps atogether lost to the public during a time of great scarcity?

Mr. SHORTT

The local magistrates were not consulted. The action was taken by the competent military autho- rities under the Defence of the Realm Regulations because of frequent acts of intimidation and outrages in the district.

Mr. O'LEARY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the local magistrates were not consulted; and can he say whether the Ministry of Food was consulted before the fair was prohibited?

Mr. SHORTT

It was not necessary.