HC Deb 09 August 1883 vol 282 cc2075-7
MR. BIGGAR

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following Report of a speech delivered by the dispensary medical attendant for the Belturbet district on 12th July last:— Dr. Thomson, in the course of his speech, said that if all the Orangemen in Ireland were as well armed as the Orangemen of this town, it would be telling the cause. He could assure Major Saunderson that fully 300 armed men, completely equipped, could be called out in Belturbet in a very short time. If any Englishman were to come here and see that gathering, some with black hats, blue hats, green hats, and emblems, what would he say? And whether, as President of the Local Government Board, he intends to take any steps in the matter?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, I have read this passage, and I must own I wish the House would read it, especially the last sentence. I think they would agree with me in saying that it is not very intelligible. Dr. Thomson is not appointed by the Government, he is not a servant of the Crown, and he does not hold a judicial office. He has to perform certain medical duties, and the rest of his time is his own. I must say that he might have employed it much better than in snaking these speeches.

MR. SEXTON

May I ask, is it not a fact that the Local Government Board, of which the right hon. Gentleman is the Head, has authority over this gentleman as medical officer?

MR. TREVELYAN

They have power to dismiss him.

MR. SEXTON

Will they do it?

[No reply.]

MR. BIGGAR

asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following report of a speech delivered by Captain Maxwell at Belturbet on 12th July last:— Captain Maxwell, after referring to his own efforts in carrying out the doings of the Emergency Committee, and praising them by calling them stalwart mom—the few small boys from this town who answered the call of the lodges when the Boycott expedition started—stated that since then he had the privilege of commanding 450 men, 350 of whom were from Cavan, who displayed great bravery in guarding boycotted farms in the South and West of Ireland. He advised them to organise here in Cavan, and to discipline and arm themselves, and also to subscribe liberally for that purpose; and, whether he intends to take legal proceedings under the Crimes Act for the language used on that occasion?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PORTER)

Sir, I have not seen any report of this speech. The extract quoted bears evidence that it is not a report at all, and I am unable to see any sufficient ground for further proceedings.

MR. HEALY

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman kindly say why shorthand writers are not sent to Orange meetings as well as to National meetings?

[No reply.]