§ MR. CHANCE(for Mr. T. M. HEALY) (Longford, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he can explain why the evidence of the Royal Commission on the Irish Land Question, presided over by Lord Cowper, contains, as if from four witnesses, a series of statements headed "Anonymous;" and, 376 is there any precedent for evidence to be received, or published, by a Royal Commission from witnesses unwilling to give their names?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I think the House and the hon. Gentleman must be aware that the Government have no control over the proceedings or arrangement of the business of a Royal Commission;but I am informed that there have been instances in other Commissions in which evidence has been given in the manner indicated by the Question. The reluctance of the witnesses to append their names to the evidence may be accounted for by the pre-sent state of affairs in Ireland.