§ 9. Captain W. BENNasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the annual Christmas fair or sale of Irish goods to have been opened at the Mansion House, Dublin, on 11th December, was prohibited and suppressed by order of the police; whether, although this fair had been advertised for a month, notice of suppression was served on the Lord Mayor only a few hours before the hour of opening; and whether any compensation will be paid to exhibitors for losses incurred in erecting stalls and transporting goods?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWith regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply given to his previous question on this subject on Monday last. The fair was, I believe, advertised for a couple of weeks prior to the opening on the 11th instant. It was not clear until the day of opening that the project was organised by an illegal body. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.