§ MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether Post Office officials in Ireland are prohibited from taking part in Orange political meetings; and, if not, whether the Government will cause this to be done?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The Question is not one for the Irish Government. It would be more properly put to the Postmaster General.
§ MR. W. REDMONDI beg to put the Question to the Postmaster General.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)Officers in the Post Office are prohibited from exerting their influence either for or against any political candidate for election as a Member of Parliament; but no prohibition against their being present at ordinary political meetings has hitherto been enforced. If any complaint were made in respect to such conduct on their part in any particular case, he should be guided in his action by the consideration of the character and objects of the meeting.
§ MR. W. REDMONDThen I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is open for Post Office officials to attend Orange political demonstrations for the purpose of insulting the Catholic and National portion of the population; and if it is not open to officials to do so, whether he will inquire into the case of a Post Office official, Creswell, at Enniskillen, who turned up in Orange regalia at an Orange meeting and joined in insulting the Catholic and National people?
§ MR. RAIKESI will be happy to make inquiries in any particular case if the hon. Gentleman gives me the particulars.
§ MR. W. REDMONDI shall give the particulars to the right hon. Gentleman.