HC Deb 27 June 1881 vol 262 cc1364-5
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the Curragh Camp Brigade Orders, No. 8, of the 11th instant, directing that certain carmen shall not be engaged by the military station it the Curragh for having refused to give their cars to the police; whether the military authorities claim the right not only to prevent certain persons from having access to the "stands" within the precincts of the Camp, but also to prevent passage through the Camp by roads which are in all respects public roads; and, if so, under what statute; whether his attention has been called to the Curragh Camp Brigade Order, No. 8 (B), of the 11th instant, which says, The house of Mr. Brown, publican, Eyre Street, Newbridge, is placed out of bounds, in consequence of his having refused to serve a carman who had driven members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in charge of a prisoner to Naas; and, whether he approves of the same?

MR. TOTTENHAM

asked, whether it was not the duty of the military authorities to prevent the access of all such suspected persons to the Camp; and, whether such rights were not under the jurisdiction of officers commanding the Camps?

MR. CHILDERS

I have inquired, Sir, into the subject of the hon. Member's Question, and I am satisfied that in taking steps to meet attempted "Boycotting" on the part of carmen, the military authorities at the Curragh have acted properly. They have not stopped the public road through the Camp, known as the "XY" road. Mr. Brown has appealed to me denying that he had anything to do with "Boycotting," and I have sent his letter to the Commander of the Forces in Ireland, who will make further inquiries in the matter.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked, whether in 31 & 82 Vict., c. 6, s. 8, there was an express proviso that the military authorities were not allowed to obstruct the public way over the Camp?

MR. CHILDERS

said, he had already stated that the military authorities had not stopped up any public road. He had looked carefully into what had been done by the military authorities at the Curragh, and he thought they had acted properly.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

desired to submit that the prohibition of the use of a particular road by certain carmen was the closing of the road to them.

MR. CHILDERS

said, he did not read it in that sense. He thought there was a distinction between that prohibition and the closing of a public road.