§ MR. BLANE (Armagh, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether information has reached him that an organized attempt to suppress public meetings in Ulster is being made at present, by the calling of counter meetings at the same time and place, with the object of having both meetings proclaimed; and, if so, whether the Government will take steps to secure the liberty of public meeting in Ireland? I wish to ask also, Whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that it is the intention of the Orange Society to suppress National public meetings in that fashion in the North of Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The hon. Gentleman is probably aware that the Question of which he gave me private Notice was asked yesterday in the House by the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon), and that there was a debate late at night on the same subject. I do not think I can add anything to the statement of policy which I then made on be-half of the Government.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Has the right hon. Gentleman received the information that the placard, in consequence of which the Nationalist meeting at Dungannon was suppressed, was concocted by the Earl of Ranfurly, a Justice of the Peace, and his agent, also a Justice of the Peace, in the shop of Mr. Aiker, in the town of Dungannon, and if the announcement to hold the Orange meeting was the only reason why the original meeting was proclaimed?
§ [No reply.]