§ Mr. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Monday is the market day in Granard, county Longford, and that under the new Closing of Shops Order people coming to town to secure their weekly supply of provisions, etc., were compelled to go home unattended to owing to the new closing Order; and if he will direct the police in such cases not to enforce the Order where people come long distances to get the necessaries of life?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am aware that Monday is market day in Granard. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to his other question on this subject.
§ Mr. FARRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department was consulted by the Lords Justices of Ireland before they issued their recent Order for closing business premises in Ireland; whether he is aware that this Order is unsuited to the conditions prevailing in Ireland, where spirit and grocery business is generally combined in one house; and will he take steps to have this Order repealed?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Board of Trade was not consulted before the Lords Justices made an Order on the 22nd October, under Regulation 10B of the Defence of the Realm Regulations relating to the closing of shops in the evening throughout Ireland, as the matter was by the Regulations one for the exercise of their Excellencies' discretion. As the Order was found to interfere with the conduct of the "mixed" business of the grocery and the licensed trade, which is almost universal in county towns, a further Order was made by the Lord Lieutenant on the 11th instant, cancelling2896W the previous Order, and directing that in towns outside the six county boroughs all such retail shops should be closed at 7 p.m. on five week days, and at 9.30 p.m. on Saturdays. It is understood that this alteration of hours meet with the approval of the traders referred to by the hon. Member.