HC Deb 14 March 1887 vol 312 c185
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, in view of the importance of accurate information on the subject, he will give a Return of the public meetings proclaimed, or attempted to be suppressed, in Ireland from 1st August, 1886, to 28th February, 1887, inclusive, with Copies of the placards calling the meetings, and of the Proclamations prohibiting the holding of the same?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

The House has already been informed that eight meetings wore prohibited within the period from August 1 to February 28. It may be of interest to state in this connection that in the same period considerably over 100 meetings were hold without any interference on the part of the Authorities. I do not think it necessary, or would be expedient, to put in the form of a Parliamentary Return the placards with regard to the proclaimed meetings; partly because, having been posted over the districts concerned, they are already matters of notoriety; and partly because they might be taken to represent the whole case on which the Government acted, and might, therefore, be misleading.

MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)

Would the right hon. Gentleman have any objection to give the specific dates of the eight meetings suppressed?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Of course, I cannot give them at this moment.