HC Deb 14 February 1884 vol 284 cc878-9
MR. O'BRIEN

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the fact that a document, protesting against the dismissal of Lord Rossmore from the magistracy, has been circulated for signature amongst the clerks in the office of the Land Commission in Dublin; whether one of these clerks, a person named Peters, is one of the signatories of the protest; and, whether Mr. Peters is also a member of the committee of management of an Orange body called the Dublin Conservative Club; and, if so, whether any notice will be taken of the conduct of civil servants who display political partizan-ship in this manner?

MR. TREVELYAN

Sir, the Land Commissioners inform me that they learnt for the first time from this Question that it is asserted that such a document as is referred to was circulated for signature among the clerks in their office. They have made inquiry from their principal officers, and can find no ground for such an assertion; They have ascertained that no such document was signed by Mr. R. M. Peters, one of the clerks in their office. The Land Commissioners decline to ask Mr. Peters whether he is a member of the Committee of Management of the Dublin Conservative Club, and the Government considers that in so declining the Commissioners are quite right. I may say—although I do not choose to name him—that a very intimate friend of my own, who holds a very important office, is a member of the Devonshire Club.

MR. HEALY

Is he a member of the National League?

MR. TREVELYAN

I cannot answer that; but I think the hon. Member would find it difficult to name any official who has been a member of the National League who has been turned out of office. The Government does not I think that such an inquiry should be made. Civil servants are not prohibited from belonging to social clubs connected with political Parties; but there is a vast difference between such a connection and taking an active part in public Party demonstrations.

MR. O'BRIEN

I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the officers who were consulted by the Land Commissioners in reference to this matter are not themselves Orangemen?

[No reply was given.]