§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will appoint to the Commission on Prison Treatment any Irishman acceptable to Irish public opinion; and, whether he can now name the Members of the Commission.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIn answer to the right hon. Gentleman I have to say that it does not appear to me that the matters which the Committee on Prison Treatment will have to decide have any relation to public opinion on political matters. The reference of the Committee will be strictly limited to the points which I have on previous occasions indicated as being those with regard to which I thought a change was desirable, and certainly I have no inclination to frame the constitution of the Committee in a manner which is likely to preclude change, as my own personal opinion is in favour of it. If an Irishman were appointed upon the principle 369 suggested by the right hon. Gentleman, it would be necessary also to appoint an Englishman, Scotchman, and, I suppose, a Welshman on similar principles; and it is, in my opinion, desirable to restrict the number of the Committee, and to remove from it, as far as possible, any political flavour. The fifth name has not yet been settled.
§ MR. SEXTONI said nothing about political opinion. I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will appoint men in whose impartiality the public will have confidence, and when the fifth name will be given?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs soon as we have received the acceptance of the gentleman who has been asked to take the position, the fifth name will be given. With regard to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I would say that the Chairman (Lord Aberdare) is a man who entirely fulfills the conditions which the right hon. Gentleman has laid down. I will endeavour to see that the fifth man does the same.