§ SIR CHARLES LEWIS (Antrim, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has read the following extract from the report in The Daily News of Monday, the 12th, of a speech of Mr. Wilfrid Blunt:—
All he could say at present was, that the action of the Government was such that but for the unwillingness of the prison officials to second it, he did not know that he should have been present this evening. It was to this that Mr. William O'Brien owed his life;And, whether the Government is aware of any case of refusal on the part of any of the officials at the prisons where Mr. William O'Brien and Mr. W. Blunt were imprisoned to carry out the prescribed duties, or to any orders as regards the treatment of those gentlemen as prisoners; and, if so, what notice was taken by the Government of such conduct? He begged to say that the Question had been put down incorrectly on the Notice Paper; the most material parts had been left out; and he wished now to supplement it. [Mr. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.): Order, order !]
§ Mr. SPEAKERinformed the hon. Baronet that the portions referred to had been purposely omitted.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: I beg to say that my attention has been called to the statement in question, and with respect to the alleged action of the Government there is not a shadow of foundation for it. The Government interfered neither one way nor the ether 1614 in the matter. The prison officers are enjoined to treat all prisoners, quite irrespective of their offence or social position, with humanity. The General Prisons Board inform me that there has been no act of refusal on the part of the officials at the prisons where the hon. Member for North-East Cork and Mr. Wilfrid Blunt were confined to carry out their prescribed duties and orders as regards the treatment of those gentlemen.