HC Deb 23 November 1888 vol 331 c31
MR. W. A. MACDONALD (Queen's County, Ossory)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question of which I have given him private Notice—namely, Whether his attention has been called to the evidence given on Wednesday before the Special Commission by Sergeant Meehan, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who stated on cross-examination that he had come to London without a subpoena, in consequence of a telegram received from Mr. Rogers, his District Inspector; and whether this proceeding on the part of an officer of police, who is under the direct control of the Government, is consistent with the declaration of the First Lord that the Government maintain a position of impartiality and neutrality as between the parties now before the Commission?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

I found a note from the hon. Member on this Bench when I came here a little more than half-an-hour ago. I had no previous knowledge of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers. I am, therefore, quite unable to give any answer to his Question, and I must ask him to put it down for another day.

MR. W. A. MACDONALD

I shall put it down again for Monday.