asked the Secretary to the Treasury how the Local Government Board based their calculations when deciding that the means of Michael and Johanna Daly, of Kimego, near Caher-civeen, exceeded the statutory amount in view of the fact that the pension officer granted an old age pension of 3s. to each, which the pension committee, who knew the circumstances of the claimants better, raised to 4s.; and will the Local Government Board reconsider their decision or decide to reopen the case?

The Local Government Board's estimate of means was based on the stock and crops on the farm on which Michael Daly and his wife resided. As the claim's have been disallowed the Board have no power to reopen consideration of the case.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the duty of the Lord Lieutenant of a county and the Lord Chancellor, when a name is submitted to them, for the office of justice of the peace, to inquire into the position and occupation in life of the applicant; whether queries are addressed to every applicant in the usual course seeking this and other information; what answer was given by Daniel McCarthy, of Skibbereen, to the question-what his occupation was; why it was that both officials neglected their duty in his case; and whether this is the first case of a clerk of a union being appointed a justice of the peace for twenty-five years?

It is an essential part of the duty of the Lieutenant of a county-to make inquiries as to the position and occupation of a candidate for the magistracy prior to recommending him to the Lord Chancellor, and to see that the form of particulars is fully and accurately filled up by the applicant. In dealing with the recommendation, the Lord Chancellor assumes that these steps have been taken by the Lieutenant, and independent inquiries are not generally made by the-Lord Chancellor with regard to these matters unless there is some particular reason for further inquiry. Candidates for the magistracy are usually required to fill up a form of particulars. In Mr. McCarthy's case the applicant, in reply to the query as to whether he was an agent, stated that he was an insurance agent; as to his property, that he held landed property of the annual value of £24 (in fee), and was possessed of stocks and shares to the amount of £700; and to the query as to profession, office, or employment, he replied that he was a gentleman. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that this is the first case of an appointment to the commission of the peace of a clerk of a union for twenty-five years. Within that period two other such persons were appointed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. Justice Madden, at the opening of the assizes in Galway on 26th July, stated that it was impossible to administer the law in certain districts of that county owing to the intimidation which prevailed; and whether, as it is now the policy of the Government to employ troops for the purpose of maintaining order and preventing intimidation in Ireland, he will take steps to send an adequate military force to restore order and for the protection of law-abiding persons in that county?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for East Down on the 31st July last. The duty is not one which could be performed by the military.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the address of Mr. Justice Cherry to the Grand Jury at the opening of Kerry Assizes on-10th July, in which his lordship stated that there had been a large increase in a serious form of intimidation, namely, firing into dwelling-houses; and whether he is prepared to afford military protection to persons subjected to this form of intimidation?

I have seen a newspaper report of the learned judge's charge at the Kerry Summer Assizes, in which, after stating that the general condition of the county was satisfactory, he added that there had been three cases of firing into dwelling-houses between the spring and summer Assizes this year as compared with one in the corresponding period last year. The police are doing all that is possible to prevent this form of intimidation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the recent appeal made by the Roman Catholic priest of Portumna to the authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of outrages in that locality, in view of the fact that there was an increased spirit of lawlessness in the district; and whether he proposes to take any steps, either by the employment of a military force or by other means, to restore order in this district?

I am informed that on Sunday, 14th July, the Roman Catholic priest of Portumna denounced from the altar the malicious killing of a cow, and expressed the hope that the police would be able to bring to justice the perpetrators of this outrage. His remarks were solely confined to this case, and he made no reference to an increased spirit of lawlessness in the district, which is in a peaceable condition.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement made on 10th July by Lord Chief Justice O'Brien, in the course of his address to the grand jury in opening the Summer Assizes for North Tipperary, in which, referring to bomb outrages recently committed and cases of incendarism for which no one had been made amenable, his lordship said that these offences were committed by people who wished to get land for themselves and indulged in destroying property with the object of hunting the owners out of it so that it might be divided amongst those whom he might term criminals, and that he sincerely regretted that such a spirit existed and was spreading in county Tipperary; and whether, in view of the fact that these observations of the Lord Chief Justice disclose a state of terrorism and intimidation existing in county Tipperary, he will take steps to send an adequate military force to that county to restore order and for the protection of law-abiding persons?

I have seen a newspaper report of the observations of the Lord Chief Justice. The hon. Member's inference that a state of intimidation and terrorism exists in North Tipperary is incorrect. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Rev. J. Flatley, P.P., of Aughower, Westport, county Mayo, has been boycotted by some of his parishioners as the result of advising the people not to be led away by agitators into striking against rent, and warning them against joining the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; whether the Easter dues of the priest, as a consequence of the boycott, were greatly reduced and the tail cut off his heifer; whether outrages have been committed on the property of any of his parishioners who paid the usual dues at Easter; and whether any steps have been taken against the members of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians or other persons concerned in the boycotting?

The police authorities inform me that an attempt was made by some of Father Flatley's parishioners to boycott him. Various reasons have been suggested for this course. I am happy to say that the boycott did not succeed to any considerable extent, and the Easter dues were reduced by £6 only. The tail was cut off a heifer, his property, and some malicious damage was done to the property of a few of the parishioners who had paid their usual dues. These cases were not reported to the police for some considerable time after they occurred, and there is no evidence available to sustain a charge against any of the persons concerned.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners have entered into negotiations for the acquisition of the unpurchased portion of the Creighton estate in the parish of Kilbride, county Roscommon; and whether, in view of the fact that the landlord has declared his willingness to sell and some of the occupiers of the grass lands their readiness also to sell their interest, the Commissioners will proceed with the negotiations for the acquisition of this entire estate in view of the need there is in the locality for additional land for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The estate has been inspected, and the Commissioners will consider the question of its purchase in due course.