HC Deb 01 May 1888 vol 325 cc1027-8
COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.)

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has seen a statement of the hon. Member for East Mayo (Mr. Dillon) at a meeting of the National League on the 24th ultimo, that on the occasion of a visit recently paid by him to the town of Newtownards for the purpose of addressing a meeting, threats were used by the agents of the landlord and the local police officer to deter people from allowing him to speak on their premises, and accusing the Lord Lieutenant of personally using the machinery and the police of the county to terrify his own tenants on that occasion; whether there are any grounds for this statement and accusation; whether the meeting in question was, in fact, held; and, whether he can give the House any particulars concerning it?

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

My attention has been called to the newspaper reports of the statement and accusation attributed to the hon. Member for East Mayo. The local constabulary authorities report that there was no ground whatever for making either one or the other; there was no interference by any landlord or his agent in the matter, neither did the police attempt to prevent the meeting, nor, indeed, were they aware of the intention to hold it until the very last moment. It appears that the hon. Member referred to, accompanied by the hon. Member for South Down (Mr. M'Cartan) and another person, arrived at Newtownards at about 7 o'clock in the evening. The proprietress of the hotel refused to allow them to hold a meeting at her premises. They then proceeded to a draper's yard, and held what the police describe as a "hole and corner meeting." The meeting was very small, consisting of about 45 or 50 persons, and only about one-half of these had any connection with land, the remainder being townspeople.

MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked, whether any policeman had gone to the person who owned the hotel before the use of the premises for the holding of a meeting was refused; and, whether any policeman had attended in the hotel yard?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

said, he had not mentioned the hotel yard. He had said the meeting was held in a draper's yard.

MR. J. E. ELLIS

said, he referred only to the hotel yard.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

replied that he did not know.