§ MR. BROADHURSTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a trades dispute in Belfast, as reported in the "Morning News" of 3rd instant, where during the proceedings before the magistrates, Mr. Hamilton, R.M. threatened to deal with similar future cases under the Crimes Act; and, whether he will inform Mr. Hamilton and other magistrates that under no circumstances is the Crimes Act to be applied to trade disputes, as promised by the Government during the passing of that Act last Session?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, he saw in the papers the statement of Mr. Hamilton with regard to the application of the Crimes Act to trade disputes. The Government, of course, had no control over Mr. Hamilton; but he (Mr. Trevelyan) had communicated with Lord Spencer as to whether it was advisable to issue instructions to the police on the matter, directing them not to bring any such cases forward under the Crimes Act, as they were decidedly of opinion that they should not be so brought forward.