§ LORD ERNEST HAMILTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to the attempt of the South of Ireland Cattle Trade Association to ruin, by systematised boycotting, the City of Cork Steam Packet Company, in consequence of the refusal of the latter to commit an illegal act; and, whether the discretionary power which, he proposes to exercise as to when the Law should be supported applies only to agrarian illegalities?
MR. JOHN O'CONNOR,with reference to the same subject, asked, Whether the South of Ireland Cattle Trade Association were not exercising their legal right in sending their cattle and goods by other lines than those established by the City of Cork Steam Packet Com- 1037 pany; whether the association having confined their operations to the members of their own body and not having influenced or intimidated any persons outside that body could be said to have infringed upon the rights of others or offended against the law of the land; and, whether it was possible for any Minister of Her Majesty's Government by the exercise of any discretionary or other power to compel people to do what they have a legal right not to do?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY)Notice of the Question put to me by the hon. Member who has just sat down only reached me since I came into the House, and it involves a point of some legal nicety. He will, therefore, excuse my answering it at present. As to the Question of the noble Lord, I have to say yes, Sir; the attention of the Government has been drawn to this affair, and orders have been given that every possible measure should be adopted to prevent persons being molested, hindered, or intimidated in their work. As regards the last paragraph of the Question, which is not very intelligible, the noble Lord appears to be under a misconception. I did not propose to exercise any discretion as to when the law should be supported, but as to how it should be supported in the particular circumstances to which I referred.