MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle on-Tyne)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at what date Mr. Home and Mr. Joyce began to examine papers and tabulate statistics with the view to elucidate subjects of inquiry before the Special Commission; by whose authority those Resident Magistrates undertook that work; to whom they furnished the result of their labours; whether Mr. Home, Mr. Joyce, or Mr. Shannon had at any time taken the evidence of any persons with a view of its being used by, or submitted to, the Times; and whether Mr. Home obtained leave from his ordinary duties for the purpose of engaging in the work of tabulating statistics for the Times?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMessrs. Home and Joyce began the duty in question immediately after the passing of the Special Commission Act, before it was known what course the Court would direct in regard to the production of information before it. These Resident Magistrates undertook the duty by order of the Government, and furnished the results to the Government. As regards the inquiry in the fourth paragraph, my reply of the 6th of March to a question put by the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool equally applies to the case of the Resident Magistrates referred to and all other 44 Government officials in Ireland. The reply to the inquiry in the last paragraph is in the negative.
MR. J. MORLEYI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman another question. The right hon. Gentleman tells the House that the Resident Magistrates furnished the results of their labours to the Government. Will he tell us how that information from the Government reached Mr. Soames?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe information suggested in the Question was the tabulated statistics in relation to crime. If the Times applied for information of that kind, it would be supplied to them.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI suppose so, if they got it.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not know that they were aware that tabulation had taken place; but they probably knew that information of the sort was in the hands of the Government.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland Div.)May I ask whether it was by instructions from the Government that Mr. Shannon held a sworn inquiry into the conduct of the convict Delaney in the prison cell, and whether there was any legal authority for the holding of such an inquiry?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI know nothing about the matter, which is not relevant to the question before the House.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYHas not Mr. Home, a Resident Magistrate of the third class, been promoted over the heads of a score of others in consequence of the assistance he rendered to the Times?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo.
§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin County, N.)Are we to understand that the tabulating of statistics for the Times is among the ordinary duties of a Resident Magistrate?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI deny that statistics were tabulated for the Times.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny that Mr. Home has been recently promoted?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, I do not. What I denied was the account given of 45 that promotion by the hon and learned Gentleman.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhat promotion has Mr. Horne received, when die he receive it, and over whose heads has he been promoted?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Member must be aware I cannot possibly answer the question.