§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)said, that he desired to put to the Secretary of State for the Home Department a Question of urgency and public importance, more immediately affecting his own constituents. On Saturday night a meeting was held at Hackney Wick, under the presidency of Mr. James Branch, of Bethnal Green Road, to protest against the action which the Government was now taking in Ireland. The meeting was a peaceful and orderly one; but it appeared that on Sunday the police visited the business premises of the chairman, and made inquiries from him, and also for the names of those who took part in that meeting. He wished to ask by whose directions those inquiries were made, and whether their object was to intimidate persons in the exercise of the right of free speech?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have no knowledge whatever of the circumstances which the hon. Member has stated. I must ask him to give Notice of the Question.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries?
§ MR. MATTHEWSCertainly.