§ MR. MELLORasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to proceedings against a publican, the landlord of the "White Bear" Inn, at Ashton under Lyne, where two police officers in plain clothes entered the said public house on Sunday the 16th of June last; and, if so, whether he considers the proceedings on that occasion justifiable; and, if not, whether he will take the steps necessary to ascertain at whose instance, by whose orders or directions, and at whose cost such proceedings were instituted and carried on?
MR. BRUCEsaid, he had heard nothing of any proceedings of the police against a publican at Ashton, and it was impossible for him to say whether the police had acted illegally on that occasion; but he would suggest that if they had acted improperly, complaint should be made to the chief constable and justices at Ashton. The Secretary of State had no authority whatever over the local police.