HC Deb 28 June 1888 vol 327 cc1572-3
THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he would grant, as an unopposed Return, a copy of the shorthand writer's notes of the Judgment delivered in the Killeagh conspiracy case on the 20th of June?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)

I think that there were no official shorthand notes taken; but, even apart from that, it would be extremely inconvenient to present them.

MR. SEXTON

Then will the Chief Secretary lay on the Table a copy of the document—whatever it was—that the Chancellor of the Exchequer quoted in the course of the recent debate?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not quote from any official documents. The rule is to lay upon the Table official documents from which extracts are quoted. This was not an official document.

MR. SEXTON

What was the manuscript from which the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Solicitor General for Ireland quoted the language of the Lord Chief Baron and other Judges?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Derby)

I must ask the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be kind enough to answer the Question; because the practice—which is new—has become so habitual on the Ministerial Bench of quoting documents night after night which they do not produce. ["Order!"] I will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the documents from which he quoted?

THE CHANCELLOR or THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)

I will ask the right hon. Gentleman to repeat the Question on another occasion.

MR. SEXTON

I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it was not a shorthand note of the Judges' Charges taken by a person paid by public money?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I believe it was not. But if the hon. Member will put a Question again I will answer him categorically; but I believe it was not.