in connection with this amendment, on the last day I was on the point of making suggestions as to how this amount could be arrived at. I am not in a position to produce figures to sustain this cut of £400,000. We are in a position to make suggestions as to a lesser sum, but still a very substantial sum, by which this Vote could, and should, be reduced. If I give some comparative figures as to the position in 1914 and 1920, it will explain how the cuts can be effected. I will not deal with the higher officers inasmuch as very little saving can be effected in that direction. Only a few officers have to be dealt with, and it is easy to deal with these under the sub-heads. I will deal with it when coming down to the lower ranks. In 1914 surgeons in the old R. I. C. had £400 salary, and that continued up to 1920, when those salaries were reviewed by the British Government. In 1920 that salary was fixed at £700, and that remains to-day. We know the position in 1920, and we know the position from 1916 up to 1920, and a great strain was put on the police in those days to retain their offices. We know the circumstances that brought about that rise. But the peak point was only reached in 1920. The rank of county inspector in those days carried a salary of £350 to £450. In 1920 that salary was raised to £700 —£900. In the present time the corresponding rank in our Gárda Síochána is £650—£800, very little less than the peak point reached in 1920 at the height of the trouble. The same thing applies to the D. I. His salary was £135 to £300, and in 1920 it jumped to £350 to £600. Our corresponding officer is paid a salary of £310 to £585. The head-constable of the old R.I.C. was paid 42/- per week to 46/- a week. In 1920 that was raised to £310—£355. In other words the salary of 42/- to 46/- was raised a little over £6 per week. The corresponding officer in the Gárda Síochána has now a salary of £280— £300. Sergeants in the old R. I. C. had 35/- to 37/- per week in 1914. In 1920 that was increased to £5 per week, rising to £5 12s. 6d. We pay a salary to the corresponding officers now of £4 7s. Od. to £4 18s. 6d. A constable in the old R. I. C. was paid 23/- to 31/- a week. In 1920 that was raised to 70/- —95/- a week, and we pay a salary of 60/- to 83/- a week. Up to 1920 recruits in training were paid 20/- a week. That was then raised to 70/- per week, and we pay them a salary of 50/-.
Now I am not going to make many comparisons with the police forces of other countries. I am not in the position to do so. I have not the details. Perhaps we may compare favourably with the other countries. I do not know. But I do say that in approaching this question there are only two channels in which we can obtain a reduction. We have only to consider whether we could obtain a reduction in pay or a reduction in the strength of the force. I do not believe it is advisable to have a reduction in the strength of the force. It may be said that they have not enough duties to perform. There is no reason why we should not give them enough duties to perform. There are several other activities which could be assigned to them along with what they are doing at present. I could mention one item just now. That is revenue duty from gun licences. I have been told this year in connection with gun licences that any individual who carries a licence to keep a gun, can shoot game anywhere he likes, without any interference whatever from the Gárda Síochána. I understand that that is the duty of the revenue officer who never appears in the country to enforce the revenue laws. I have been told by officers of the Gárdaí that they have no jurisdiction to go in on the fields and enforce the Game Laws. This is a law that I hold cannot be enforced without the Gárda Síochána. They are the only people who can do it. It is ridiculous to think the revenue officers can do it. They cannot. To enable the revenue officers to put these Game Laws effectively into operation would need a tremendous force in the country. Men have gone around on week-days and especially on Sundays in battalions and they shoot game of every description without a game licence.
