MR BIRRELL AND CATTLEDRIVING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8524, 31 August 1907, Page 7

MR BIRRELL AND CATTLEDRIVING.

Early last month the Chief Secretary for Ireland was Questioned in the House of Commons on the "cattle driving conspiracy" in Ireland, as Mr Lonsdale called it. He said that cases had occurred in East Galway. The police efforts in such matters were but the adjunct to the primary duty of the owners to do something to provide for the safety of their property. The Inspector-General informed him that hitherto the owners of cattle on the grazing farms had done nothing to prevent their being driven off. (Nationalist cheers.) Mr C. Craig asked what the Inspec-tor-General expected owners to do. Mr Birrell: I think the InspectorGeneral is perfectly justified. It is the duty of the people in Ireland or elsewhere to protect their own property. (Nationalist cheers, and Opposition cries of "Oh!") Mr C. Craig: Does he expect him to build a wall ten or twelve feet high? (Nationalist cries of "Order!" and Opposition cheers.) Mr Birrell: To take the ordinary steps which owners of property take e\erywhere else. (Nationalist cheers.) Mr Pike Pease: In the opinion of the Irish Office, is this a serious crime? No answer was given. ■ Mr Birrell told Mr Craig that in another case the offenders were not known, but the police were paying attention to the farm. Mr T. L. Corbett: Beyond paying attention to the farm, are the police endeavouring to find the culprits? Mr Birrell: The police are doing their duty. Mr Corbett: I ask whether the police are trying to find the culprits? Mr Birrell: That would be doing *&ieir duty. (Laughter.) Mr Birrell having answered a question of Mr Meechan in regard to alleged defects in the drainage system of Queen's County, Mr Flynn asked whether, if they had Home Rule, these defects would very soon be remedied. (Irish cheers.) Mr Birrell: I think it very likely. (Renewed cheers.)