§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a leading article in the "Hampshire Post," in which the following passage occurs:—
But if Mr. Harvey had no power to select the jurors, he had, we suppose, some choice allowed him as regards the selection of himself as the official to conduct the inquisition. We should have thought after the experience which Mr. Harvey has had with respect to the extreme sensitiveness of the public on the score of appearances, as illustrated in the case of the "Mistletoe" inquiry, that he would have seen the expediency of delegating to some other person his authority in this matter;and, whether he cannot still arrange to put the inquiry in the hands of some coroner who does not receive any Admiralty fees?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he was not in the habit of taking in The Hampshire Post, and therefore had not seen the article until his attention was called to it by the hon. Member's Notice of the Question. His reply was that he had no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. The Coroner had written to the First Lord of the Admiralty inquiring whether it was advisable that, on account of his connection with 1972 the Admiralty, the inquiry should be held before any other person than himself. His right hon. Friend immediately replied that, so far as he was concerned, he thought it would be advisable. There was, however, a question of law as to whether that could be done. So far as he was at present advised, it appeared that as the inquiry had been commenced by the Coroner, it must be continued to be held before the same person. He would endeavour to obtain the best opinion upon the point; but he was afraid that there were legal difficulties in the way of holding the inquest before a deputy which could not be overcome.
§ MR. HUNTwished to supplement the answer of his right hon. Friend. It was thought desirable that the Coroner should not conduct the inquiry himself, but that some one else ought to be appointed. He, however, afterwards wrote to say that, in consequence of the state of the corpses, he thought it necessary to commence the inquest at once, and therefore he was not able to make any other arrangement.
§ MR. GOSCHENasked the right hon. Gentleman to give an approximate idea as to how long the inquiry was likely to last, and whether there would be any opportunity for the House to discuss the subject before the end of the Session? He had been most anxious not to put to the First Lord any Question respecting the Thunderer pending the inquest; and although the Session was now drawing to a close, he thought it possible that the right hon. Gentleman might be able to furnish the House with information upon the subject before the Prorogation.
§ MR. HUNTIt is quite impossible to say how long the inquiry may last or how long the Session may last. At present it looks as if there may be a competition between them as to which shall hold out the longest. I am unable to give any answer to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman. I should be exceedingly glad if I could see my way to the end of the inquiry.