Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that cattle-driving is at present on the increase in Ireland; whether advice has been tendered to the people to plough up the grazing lands with a view to intimidating the owners of the farms; and what steps the Government propose to take to suppress such outrages?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere have been sixty-two cattle-drives since the beginning of the year, as compared with seventy-three during the corresponding period of 1909, and 179 in the corresponding period of 1908. Cattle-driving does not, therefore, appear to be on the increase. So far as I am aware, the ploughing of grazing lands has only been advocated on one occasion. The police are on the alert with regard to this matter.