§ MR. HEALYasked the Postmaster General, Whether the statement is true that the Craughwell Telegraph Office has had to be closed owing to the arrest under the Coercion Act of Mr. E. J. Barrett, the telegraphist; whether he will in future arrange with the Irish Executive that no further telegraph clerks shall be so arrested until the Post Office authorities have been first notified, and arrangements made for promptly filling up the arrested official's place; and, whether he will inform the House, in view of future arrests, what course the Department intend to take towards their officials imprisoned on suspicion, whether they are to be reinstated on their release, and maintained or paid, while confined, by the Post Office, if their previous official record has been satisfactory?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that in consequence of Barrett's arrest the Craugh-well Telegraph Office was closed on the 21st or 22nd instant; but it was opened again on the 25th. At the same time, it is right to state that Barrett was not a telegraphist on the Establishment, but an assistant employed by the local Postmaster. I do not think it would be expedient for me, as suggested by the hon. Member, to advise the Irish Government not to exercise until the Post Office has been communicated with in any particular case the power which recent legislation has placed at their disposal. In reply to the latter part of the Question, I am glad to say that no officer on the Establishment of the Post Office in Ireland has been arrested; and, so far as I am aware, there is no reason to suppose that any officer will be arrested. I do not, therefore, think that it is necessary to consider what should be done in 1377 the hypothetical case put by the hon. Member.