MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (Londonderry City) (for Mr. PARNELL) (Cork City)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the practice to send a police reporter to meetings connected with purely trade disputes in England?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E)This is not the practice in the Metropolitan Police District; I am not aware whether the practice exists elsewhere. There would be no hesitation in sending a police reporter to any meeting where there was reason to anticipate a breach of the law.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether it is a fact that the practice is creeping in of sending police reporters to meetings in the Metropolis?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware that the practice is creeping in, or that it exists. Police reporters were sent last autumn to certain meetings in order to get authentic reports of the proceedings.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAMHas the practice been discontinued since then?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe meetings have been discontinued; and it has, consequently, not been found necessary to send reporters.