HC Deb 09 June 1887 vol 315 cc1429-32
Ms. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that a letter, in the following form, has been issued to the Royal Constabulary in Ireland:—

"Circular.

"Royal Irish Constabulary Office,

"Dublin Castle, 14th May, 1887.

"Queen's Jubilee.

"The Inspector General has received applications from members of the Force in several counties for permission to raise a fund in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee. He has freely consented in such cases to subscriptions being raised, on the understanding that the officers or men should contribute as individuals, and that no person in authority should organise the effort. Although the Inspector General would not have felt warranted in moving in the matter himself, yet, as he has been applied to upon the subject, he thinks that it will probably meet the wishes of such members of the Force as desire to contribute to suggest a course by which their moneys should go to form a general Constabulary Fund rather than that it should be divided into a district or local fund. He would, with that view, propose that any subscriptions given by members of the Force should he forwarded through district officers to the County Inspectors, who could then send them to the Bank of Ireland, which has consented to act as treasurer for 'the Royal Irish Constabulary Jubilee Fund.' With the view of securing that the subscriptions should be perfectly voluntary, the Inspector General directs that no application whatever be made to either officers or men in the matter. In the event of the project being taken up by the Force, either generally or in a more or less extended manner, a committee of the subscribers could hereafter arrange details relative to the object to which the money might be devoted.

"A. Reed, Inspector General;"

whether the applications above referred to as having been received by the Inspector General have been made by the men, or merely by the officers of the Force, and how many such applications have been received; and, whether it is the fact that the district officers are requiring to have the names of the subscribers and the amounts given by each; and, if so, whether he will direct that the above Circular shall be acted upon strictly, and that no application whatever shall be made to either officers or men in the matter?

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)

(who replied) said: The Circular alluded to was issued by the Inspector General in consequence of representations which, reached him at various times, both verbally and through the Press, and finally on application, on the subject made by two County Inspectors representing the officers and men of their counties. There does not appear to be any reason to doubt that the district officers will observe the instructions conveyed in the Circular. The Government see no necessity to give the direction suggested.

MR. CONYBEARE

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to lay before him a letter giving details of cases in which the instructions have been evaded, and will he take action upon it?

COLONEL KING - HARMAN

Certainly, if the hon. Member will send the letter to the Chief Secretary it shall be attended to.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman explain how it was that the Chief Secretary stated on Tuesday that no such Circular was ever issued?

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Certainly, Sir; the Question asked by the hon. Member for the Camborne Division of Cornwall (Mr. Conybeare) was whether a Circular had been issued by the Inspector General to the different police stations in Ireland calling upon the men to subscribe funds for the purchase of a horse and jaunting car as a Jubilee offering to Her Majesty. No such Circular was ever issued.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Then, Sir, the Chief Secretary's statement was a mere quibble.

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! I consider the interruption of the hon. and learned Member to be disorderly and un-Parliamentary, and I ask him to withdraw it.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Do I understand you to rule, Sir, that the word "quibble" is un-Parliamentary?

MR. SPEAKER

I consider that the interruption of the hon. and learned Member was disorderly and un-Parliamentary, and I ask him to withdraw it.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is it the interruption I am to withdraw?

MR. SPEAKER

I ask the hon. and learned Member to withdraw the expression he used.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Very well, Sir. [Cries of "Withdraw!" and "Name! "]

MR. SPEAKER

Does the hon. and learned Member withdraw the expression of which I complain?

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is it the word "quibble?"

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. and learned Member said that the Chief Secretary had been guilty of a quibble. He must withdraw that expression.

MR. T. M. HEALY

If the word "quibble" is un-Parliamentary, I will withdraw it.

MR. SPEAKER

This is a matter of some importance. The hon. and learned Member interrupted a Question asked by another hon. Member in a disorderly manner, and he said that a statement made by a right hon. Member of this House was a quibble. I ask the hon. and learned Member to withdraw that expression?

MR. T. M. HEALY

Yes, sir.