HC Deb 04 May 1885 vol 297 cc1486-8
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, on the 21st ultimo, Mr. William Johnston, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Fisheries in Ireland, delivered a public speech, in which he denounced what he termed "the errors of the Church of Rome," and incited the Protestant clergy to do the like on the 12th of next July; whether the Government are aware that the 12th of July is an anniversary celebrated by the Orange Society, and that the manner adopted to celebrate this anniversary has frequently led to disorder, riot, and loss of life, through conflicts between people of different creeds; and, whether, having regard to the undertaking exacted, after repeated warnings by the Lord Lieutenant from Mr. Johnston with regard to public speeches, he will be longer retained in the public service?

MR. HEALY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been called to the public letter written by Mr. Wm. Johnston, Inspector of Fisheries, to the Orange Grand Master, which appeared in The Belfast News Letter, Expressing his readiness, if called upon, to contest one of the divisions of Belfast at the General Election; is he aware that this official admits the authorship of the following letter in The Belfast Evening Telegraph:— The 12th of July is being prepared for all over Ulster. In view of the approaching General Election it will be of unusual importance. On that occasion I hope to take my place with my Orange brethren. No more loyal addresses will be presented to the Prince and Princess of Wales than the Orange ones, and I hope to be able hereafter to give emphasis to them when I am Member for South Belfast; will he explain on what principle the Government consider that such declarations by a Civil Servant of his intention to seek a seat in Parliament do not constitute a breach of the Treasury Rule of November 12th 1884 (since made an Order in Council), which requires that any Civil Servant who, by an election address or "in any other manner, announces himself as a candidate," should resign his position under the Crown; is it the fact that Mr. Johnston, who threatens next 12th July "to take my place with my Orange brethren," is the same official whose repeated political speeches compelled the Irish Executive to exact from him a promise in writing that he would never again interfere in politics while a public servant; whether, since the answers given in the House, denying that Mr. Johnston was a Parliamentary candidate, that official, as reported in The Freeman of May 1st, spoke as follows at a meeting in the Dublin Metropolitan Hall:— He would be followed by Mr. Russell, to whose labours they owed the Sunday Closing Act for Ireland, and if, as he hoped, Mr. Russell would have a seat in the House of Commons after the General Election, where perhaps he (Mr. Johnston) might also be able to complete the work that was begun in 1878; and, what course the Government will take under all the circumstances of this case?

MR. LEWIS

asked, whether there was any restriction upon the utterance of religious convictions?

MR. HEALY

By officials.

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Two points are raised in these Questions. The first is whether Mr. Johnston, by recent declarations of his intention to become a candidate for election to Parliament, has come within the Rule laid down by a recent Order in Council, which says that a Civil servant shall resign his office as soon as he issues an address, or in any other manner announces himself as a candidate. On examination, it appears to us that the words used did not constitute such a definite announcement as is contemplated by the Order in Council; and a letter has been received from Mr. Johnston, dated May 2, in which he says:— The idea of my being a candidate for a Parliamentary seat at the General Election has now been abandoned. [Mr. HEALY: Now!] The second point is whether, in several recent speeches, Mr. Johnston has not departed from that neutral attitude in political and Party matters which ought to be maintained by a public servant; and whether he has not in particular infringed the undertaking he gave in February last year to refrain from taking any active part in any public Party meetings or discussing in public any Party questions. The Government take a most serious view of these speeches as reported, and we are in communication with Mr. Johnston on the subject.

MR. HEALY

When shall I put another Question on this subject?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

In about a week.