MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Mr. Joyce, Mr. Shannon, and Mr. Horne are the three Resident Magistrates specially charged with carrying out inquiries under Section 1 of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act; whether those gentlemen, or some of them, have been engaged in assisting the Times to obtain evidence; whether Mr. Home was so engaged before the sitting of the Special Commission; how long he has been so engaged; whether he obtained leave from his ordinary duties at Westport for that purpose; and when such leave was first obtained; whether a district inspector of Constabulary was engaged in each divisional 1506 district in assisting the Times to procure evidence, or in some other relation to the Times case?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Resident Magistrates named in the first paragraph are not specially charged with carrying out inquiries under Section 1 of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act; but they are, among others, legally qualified to hold such inquiries when called upon. So far as I am aware, they have not been engaged in assisting the Times to obtain evidence. No doubt they have rendered, and will render, any assistance in their power with a view to the elucidation of the various matters now under investigation before the Special Commission. Mr. Joyce and Mr. Horne were engaged in examining papers and statistics, &c., connected with crime in Ireland, in order that particulars could be furnished upon application being made either by the Commission or any of the parties appearing before it. It is not true that a district inspector was engaged in each division in assisting the Times to procure evidence. It is true that several district inspectors were engaged in tabulating information already in possession of the police—an obviously proper proceeding. And I have no doubt that all officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary upon demand give all proper information in their possession which is relevant to the inquiry.
MR. J. MORLEYDo I understand that these magistrates and officers did nothing but tabulate statistics already in the possession of the police?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is the only thing, so far as I know, and as far as I am concerned, in which they did anything. But of course those subpoenaed by the Times, no doubt, as I have said, gave all the information in their power.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURTo the persons who asked them for it.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no knowledge of these facts at all. I have laid down a general principle, which I apprehend is right, that it is their duty to aid in the inquiry now going on before the Commission. So far as I am concerned, the only work they were engaged upon was this tabulated work.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no knowledge of that.