HC Deb 27 April 1885 vol 297 cc813-4
MR. LABOUCHERE

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Ms attention has been called to the statement in The Belfast News Letter that Mr. William Johnston, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Fisheries in Ireland, had written to the Orange Grand Master, "expressing his readiness, if called upon, to contest one of the divisions of Belfast at the General Election," and that an uncontradicted statement, has also been published, announcing that Mr. Johnston has been selected as the Tory candidate for one of the divisions of Down; is this the same official from whom a former Irish Secretary slated he had obtained a written pledge that he would abstain from politics while in office; had Mr. Johnston previously been several times cautioned by the Irish Executive for inflammatory speeches; is the Lord Lieutenant aware of the existence of the Treasury Minute of 12th November last, wherein the First Lord, referring to those civil servants who "announce themselves publicly as candidates for seats in the House," states it to be the usage of the Department that a civil servant should resign "as soon as he issues his address to the electors, or in any other manner announces himself as a candidate," and that this regulation has now been made an Order in Council; has Mr. William Johnston resigned office as fishery inspector; is it the fact that, although several weeks have elapsed since the announcement of his candidature, no steps have been taken by Earl Spencer to enforce the Order in Council; and, what is the explanation of the Irish Government?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Mr. Johnston states that he has not announced himself publicly as a candidate for a seat in the House of Commons, nor has he issued any address, nor, as he believes, in any way infringed the Order in Council. He also states that he has not been selected as a candidate for one of the divisions of Down. The case will be dealt with by the Irish Government in strict acrordance with the Order in Council should the occasion arise.

MR. HEALY

Has the light hon. Gentleman seen a letter from Mr. Johnston in The Belfast Evening News, in which the following passage occurs:— The 12th of July is approaching, and all over Ulster, in view of the approaching election, it will have a national importance. On that occasion I hope to take my place amongst my Orange brethren, and I hope hereafter to gave emphasis to my views when Member for South Belfast.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have not heard of it, and I can only say it is somewhat inconsistent with the letters I have received from Mr. Johnston. I have said that as soon as it appears that Mr. Johnston is taking such a position as a candidate for Parliament as to bring him within the Order of Council the Government will act upon it.

MR. SEXTON

asked whether Mr. Johnston had recently broken the pledges which he formerly gave, and had made political speeches?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have not seen anything of the kind.

MR. HEALY

asked whether one of the terms of the Order in Council was not to the effect—"As soon as any civil servant issues his address to the electors, or in any other way announces himself as a candidate;" and whether Mr. Johnston had not fulfilled that condition when he stated that he hoped to be the Member for South Belfast?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Mr. Johnston, in his letter, says expressly that he has not announced himself publicly as a candidate for a seat in the House of Commons, nor issued any address, nor in any way infringed the Order in Council.

MR. HEALY

gave Notice that he would call attention to the matter.