§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Wexford County Council have repeatedly asked for an explanation of the reasons for which the Government have made the extra police tax for recent labour troubles in Wexford town a charge on the whole county; if he is aware that this explanation has never been supplied; if he is aware that the Government have now notified the county council that they propose to deduct the amount of this tax—namely, £3,000, from the county local taxation grant; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLI can only refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for South Wexford on 15th May. The Lord Lieutenant acted in this matter in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by Section 8 of the Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1839, and I do not feel called upon to state the reasons which actuated him, though probably the comparatively small rateable value of the town of Wexford would have influenced his decision.