HC Deb 16 June 1882 vol 270 cc1414-6
MR. PARNELL

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been directed to a paragraph in the "Standard" and "Freeman's Journal," of yesterday, by which it would appear that the permission granted by the Lord Lieutenant to erect huts for Lord Cloncurry's evicted tenants has been re- voked; and, whether there is any truth in the paragraph?

MR. TREVELYAN

No, Sir. The permission has not been revoked.

MR. PARNELL

Then there is no foundation for the rumour that the erection of the huts has been interfered with?

MR. TREVELYAN

There is no foundation for the rumour.

Subsequently,

MR. TREVELYAN

said: I do not know whether I should be in Order if I took this opportunity to amplify the answer which I have given to the hon. Member for the City of Cork. I wish to add that one of the most able special magistrates in Ireland—one who has succeeded as well as any special magistrate in the management of his district —gave the Lord Lieutenant the advice that in the case of these huts for sheltering evicted tenants he himself acted on the principle that, wherever there was any reason to apprehend they would be used for purposes of intimidation, a police hut should be erected with them. The Lord Lieutenant, after consultation with the special magistrates, had directed that that system should be adopted.

MR. GIBSON

asked if these huts would be erected on the same spot as those erected for the purpose of intimidation would have been had that been allowed?

MR. TREVELYAN

said, that was an was an important Question, to which he could not then give a reply. He would answer on Monday, and he hoped that would be sufficient for the right hon. and learned Gentleman.

MR. J. LOWTHER

asked whether, since the Lord Lieutenant had come to the decision referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, huts might now be erected under all conditions for evicted tenants, provided that protection was afforded against intimidation?

MR. TREVELYAN

It is difficult to explain without raising a debate; but I may say that the reports of the special Resident Magistrates prove very clearly that there has been a divergence of opinion on the subject. One set of magistrates stated that all huts were intended for purposes of intimidation, and others stated that that was not so. The Lord Lieutenant has decided that, where the special Resident Magistrate of the district held out any apprehension of intimidation, the best way would be to have police huts also erected. In the present state of Ireland, I feel myself justified in saying that that decision was received with satisfaction by eminent officials whose names, were I to give them, would carry conviction.

MR. O'DONNELL

asked whether these magistrates, among whom there was such a divergence of opinion, would be chosen to exercise summary powers under the Coercion Act?

[No reply was given.]