§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that at a meeting of the Limerick (No. 2) District Council Mr. C. Shine resigned his position as collector to the Bridgetown dispensary district, giving as the reason that he would not risk his life for the council by enforcing the collection of rents of labourers' cottages at Broadford; is he aware that the collector acted upon information supplied to him by the police, who advised him that if he went to Broadford again he should have police protection; is he aware that the chairman of the district council stated that the arrears of cottage rents are going up by leaps and bounds; and what steps he proposes to take to restore respect for the law in this district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe minutes of the proceedings of the district council merely record that Mr. Shine resigned his position owing to circumstances over which he had no control, but I understand that the police had previously advised him to give them notice before visiting the Broadford district. The chairman of the district council stated that the rents of the labourers' cottages were greatly in arrear. The district in question is unfortunately still one of the few exceptions to the generally peaceful condition of the South and West of Ireland. The police are doing all in their power to preserve order, and the local police station has been reinforced by three additional men.