§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the accounts of the disturbance at Kennington, on Sunday morning last, contained in The Standard of the 2nd instant, and in letters from eye-witnesses published in The Pall Mall Gazette of the same date, and whether those reports are correct; whether, in consequence of the previous disturbance of a Socialist meeting by the "Primrose Society," a Socialist had applied to the Lambeth Police Court for 695 protection, and that Chief Inspector Chisholm had thereupon
informed the magistrate that in order to stop these disturbances neither party would he permitted to hold these meetings;whether it is a part of the duties of the police, and, if so, since when, and by what authority, to deny to any section of the community their right to hold a public meeting; and, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances leading to the disturbance, and the action of the police?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY) (Sheffield, Hallam)(who replied) said: The Secretary of State has not seen the particular newspaper reports referred to; but he is informed by the Chief Commissioner of Police that it is not a fact that a Socialist applied to the Police Court for protection, or that the Inspector made use of the words quoted. It certainly would be no part of his duty to make any such statement, or to volunteer any statement as to what the future action of the police might be. The Secretary of State sees no reason to make any further inquiry into the matter, which is now the subject of proceedings before a magistrate.