HC Deb 16 April 1883 vol 278 cc296-7
MR. SALT

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he will take into consideration whether some special and adequate acknowledgment can be given to the police officers who were engaged in the discovery or removal of the dynamite and other explosive materials recently captured?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I hope, Sir, from what I have said in this House as to what I feel, and the Government feel, that hon. Members will not think that there is any disinclination to appreciate and to recognize in all proper ways the services which the police have rendered. But I appeal to the hon. Member and the House generally, whether it is not far better to leave the administration of the police generally—where I think it ought to be—in the hands of the Executive Government in this, as in other matters?

MR. JOSEPH COWEN

said, there were other persons who ought to be rewarded equally as well as the police; and for that reason he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman a Question arising out of the last Question. It was, Were the Government going to reward the experts who had shown so much courage and skill in destroying the large quantity of nitro-glycerine at Birmingham? It was a very dangerous operation, and it was performed with great success. Some years ago they had, in Newcastle, a very serious accident in consequence of attempting to destroy some nitro-glycerine near that town. There were eight persons killed in doing it, amongst them the Sheriff of Newcastle, the Town Surveyor, and, indeed, all who were present. He saw that the Birmingham Corporation, with Brummagem generosity, had voted Mr. Mae-ready, who destroyed the glycerine, the handsome sum of £10. He wished to know if the Government were prepared to supplement the gift by recognizing better Mr. Macready's great services?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I am not sorry to have this opportunity of bearing my testimony to the courage and skill exhibited by all the gentlemen who were not connected with the Police Force—by Major Majendie, the Inspector of Explosives, by Dr. Dupré, the eminent chemist, and by the other gentlemen to whom the hon. Member (Mr. Cowen) has alluded; and, also, I have no doubt by others who have risked their lives in order to secure the public safety. But again I would ask that the House, feeling that the Government are not insensible of these things, should leave the matter to the Executive.