§ MR. ALEXANDER BLANE (Armagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the report of The Belfast News Letter of the 31st March he true, which states that Mr. George Hill Smith, District Registrar of the Court of Probate at 1165 Armagh, was at a Tory demonstration at Exeter on the 29th March, and at a previous meeting at Newcastle on Tyne on the 25th March, at both of which he was a platform speaker; whether Mr. George Hill Smith had been previously warned as to his attendance at political meetings, whilst holding an office under the Court of Probate in Ireland; and, whether Mr. George Hill Smith, Armagh, will be included in the Estimates; and, if so, what facilities will be afforded the House for their discussion?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne), in reply, said, he was not aware of the exact character of the meeting; but he was informed that it was not a Party gathering. The rule against Civil servants taking part in public affairs applied to those whose entire time was to be devoted to the public service, and Mr. Hill Smith's case did not come within the contemplation of the rule.