MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Major Leadbetter, the Chief Constable of Denbighshire, in his Quarterly Report to the Quarter Sessions held last week, stated that the recent tithe disturbance at Llanefydd was commenced by a person named William Jones striking Mr. Stevens, the tithe bailiff; whether the Grand Jury made a presentment that such Report was inaccurate and misleading, and should be regarded as one-sided; whether the Chief Constable has made a similar Report to the Home Office; whether he will cause an independent inquiry to be made into the accuracy of the official Report so made by Major Leadbetter; whether, notwithstanding the alleged disturbed state of the county, the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions was presented with white gloves, owing to there being no prisoners to be tried; and, whether, having regard to this proof of the peacefulness of the county, Her Majesty's Government will, in future, decline to allow the military forces to be employed in Denbighshire?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The answer to the first three paragraphs is in the affirmative. I am informed by the Chairman of Quarter Sessions that the Report of the Chief Constable was fully discussed by the Court, many of the magistrates having been present at the tithe disturbance. The magistrates unanimously passed a resolution that the Court, while deeply regretting the disturbances which had arisen in some parts of the county connected with the payment of tithe rent-charge, and having heard the Special Report of the Chief Constable, is of opinion that the Chief Constable and police have acted with discretion; and that the magistrates 1390 were fully justified in deciding to call out the military in aid of the civil power for the maintenance of law and order in this county. I see no reason for ordering a further inquiry into the details of the disturbance. No one alleged that the county was in a disturbed state, and there was a gratifying absence of ordinary crime; but, so long as the magistrates see reason to anticipate disturbances in connection with the enforcement of tithe, the Government will not decline to render them such assistance as, under the circumstances, may be thought necessary.