Cork – Mr Lonsdale, Member of Parliament, questioned the Chief Secretary regarding the City of Limerick’s refusal to pay charges for extra police over the past twenty years. The Chief Secretary responded that no additional police were required in Limerick due to its peaceful condition. Mr Wyndham, however, was not aware of this and acknowledged that the law at the time did not provide a satisfactory remedy for recovering the debt. Many government officials had refrained from pursuing legal action against the Corporation, believing it would not lead to debt recovery. The claim was considered to fall outside the scope of relevant legislation.
Furthermore, Mr Lonsdale inquired about the official responsible for preventing the recovery of charges for extra police from several counties, resulting in a loss of over £7,000 to the Exchequer. Mr Wyndham clarified that the law officers had advised that there was no legal power to recover the charges.
In a separate matter, Mr French raised a question to the Secretary of State for War regarding the purchase of army remounts in Ireland. He sought information on the number of horses purchased in 1903, the average price paid, and whether the purchases were made through dealers or intermediaries. Mr Arnold Forster, on behalf of the Secretary of State for War, stated that 2,321 horses were acquired as army remounts in Ireland, with an average price of £13 1s. The majority of purchases were made through dealers. The suggestion of establishing local depots for direct transactions between the government and Irish farmers would be considered.
In a different context, Mr Boland questioned the President of the Board of Trade regarding the alleged sale of counterfeit Irish lace in Nice. Mr G. Balfour informed the House that a report had confirmed the production of imitation Irish lace in St. Gall and Nice over several years. However, more specific information regarding the description under which the imitation lace was sold in Nice was still awaited. Steps would be taken to safeguard the interests of the Irish lace industry once more definitive details were available.
These parliamentary inquiries reflect ongoing concerns and efforts to address various issues related to charges, horse purchases, and the protection of Irish industries.
New Ross Standard – Friday 12 August 1904
