AGRARIAN OUTRAGES (IRELAND)— THE RETURNS—QUESTION. (Hansard, 13 February 1888)

§ EARL SPENCER
asked the Lord Privy Seal, When the Returns promised in "another place" in reference to Ireland would be presented; what the nature of the Returns as to the condition of Ireland during the last six months would be; and whether the noble Earl proposed to present the Returns to their Lordships?

§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)
, in reply, said, that the usual Return showing the agrarian outrages falling under each head of offence, in each county in Ireland, would be made. Those for the September and December quarters of last year had already been laid on the Table of their Lordships' House last Thursday. On Friday his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary laid on the Table of the House of Commons a supplementary Return, which had been moved for, and which would, be found to be analogous to that presented by Sir George Trevelyan in February, 1883, showing the distribution of those offences—that was, the number reported in each month of the years 1886 and 1887, and in the month of January, 1888. His right hon. Friend 243 had also laid on the Table of the other House a Return showing the number of cases of Boycotting and the number of persons affected thereby in each county up to the 31st July last and up to January 31st, 1888. The latter Returns would be circulated in the other House that day (Monday); and if his noble Friend opposite wished to move for them, they would be laid on the Table of their Lordships' House and circulated as soon as possible.

§ LORD HERSCHELL
asked, whether the noble Earl would have any objection to lay on the Table a Return showing the number of proceedings under the Crimes Act; before what magistrates the proceedings took place; what the nature of the charge and the result? Also, whether he could give a Return of the number of meetings, or attempted meetings, which had been brought under the notice of the authorities; and also the number of offences which had been reported, and whether prosecutions had taken place or not?

§ EARL CADOGAN
said, he would hardly like to give a direct reply without consultation with his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland; but perhaps the noble and learned Lord would repeat his Question on a future day.

§ EARL SPENCER
said, he thought it would be desirable that all the Returns presented to the House of Commons should also be presented to their Lordships, and he would therefore move for them. He should like to know if the Lord Privy Seal could also present a Return which he thought had an important bearing on the condition of Ireland, and which was made to the Government, at all events, if not made public, when he was in Ireland, and that was a Return of what were called derelict farms—farms from which the tenants had been evicted, and which the landlords could not let? He was quite aware that no Return based upon this information had been published; but it would be important if a Return on this subject could be laid upon the Table. It would also be interesting to have a Return of the number of persons partially or wholly under police protection. Such a Return might be given for certain periods before and after the passing of the Crimes Act, so as to enable a comparison to be made between the two 244 Periods. He considered these last would be of great service.

§ EARL CADOGAN
said, he must ask his noble Friend to put the Question in reference to the last-mentioned Returns again upon Thursday next, and during the interval he (Earl Cadogan) would consult his right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary and give an answer on that day.