§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the 126 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that, on Sunday the 6th of August, a large body of police were drafted from Bandon, Macroom, and Millstreet, to prevent a public meeting of the inhabitants of Kilcorney, County Cork, being held to express their disapproval of the eviction of Mr. David Leader by Mr. Collins, of Prospect, Cork; and whether he is aware of the fact that Mr. Leader has been evicted in consequence of his inability to pay the arrears of rent in full, and that he has repeatedly offered to submit his claims to arbitration?
§ MR. FLYNNAt the same time, I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the action of District Inspector Bonass (R. I. C), in calling upon Rev. Mr. O'Keefe, Banteer, on Saturday, 5th instant, to inform him that a meeting intended to be held on the following day would be dispersed by force; is he aware that the meeting was called to protest against au eviction in the neighbourhood; and whether it lies in the power of an Executive officer to proclaim or disperse a legal meeting and conducted in a proper manner?
MR. J. MORLEYIn reference to this question, I am informed that a force of police to the number of 44 assembled in the locality mentioned to prevent a meeting in the immediate neighbourhood of the farm from which Mr. Leader has been evicted. The object of the meeting is correctly stated; but, as it appeared to be the intention to hold it beside the evicted farm, which is in charge of two caretakers, it was thought that the meeting would lead to intimidation if held at this spot, and in consequence it was intimated to the promoters that no meeting would be permitted there. With regard to the last paragraph of the question of the hon. Member for Mid Cork, I understand that Mr. Leader was evicted for non-payment of arrears of rent amounting to £258. It is a fact, I am informed, that he is willing to leave his case to arbitration: but I am not in a position to speak as to his ability or inability to pay the arrears in full.
§ MR. FLYNNThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my question. I will ask him to do so, and also, for the sake of public convenience, will he state what rule governs the conduct of the authorities with 127 regard to those meetings; and what makes a meeting which would otherwise be legal illegal if hold in the immediate vicinity of an evicted farm?
MR. J. MORLEYIt is not within the power of an Executive officer to proclaim or disperse a legal meeting conducted in a proper manner; but one of the objects of the meeting in this case, as announced in the church by the officiating clergyman, was to hold up to public odium those who were responsible for the eviction of MR. Leader, the tenant. That announcement naturally gave colour to the object of the meeting. The hon. Member asks what our rule in these cases is. My rule is that if a meeting is likely to lead to unlawful action directly by reason of its proximity to an evicted farm the police have orders to prevent such a meeting.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Was it in consequence of the altar denunciation by the priest that the right hon. Gentleman has put down this meeting?
MR. J. MORLEYNo; not at all. I do not know that there was any altar denunciation. But what was said, and other circumstances, led the authorities on the spot to suppose that it would have, and was meant to have, an intimidatory effect. The meeting being announced to be held close to or upon the evicted farm—I forget which—the Executive officer very properly said it would not be allowed.
§ MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)May I ask whether in cases of this kind the information of the danger apprehended is on oath or is it an ordinary Police Report? Do the Central Government act in each case, or are the instructions to the police general?
MR. J. MORLEYThe instructions to the police are not general. They are given by the Central Authority almost in each case, and in each case wherever time allows. The information is not on oath, and could not be so, because in all cases it is, after all, a constructive inference, formed by those who have full knowledge and information of all the local circumstances.
§ MR. FLYNNThe constructive inference is exactly where the danger comes in. For the sake of future convenience, may I ask what regulations the authorities have laid down with regard to a public 128 meeting which the promoters believe to be legal, and at which no language of an unlawful or intimidatory character is intended to be used?
MR. J. MORLEYThe authorities must judge in each case. No general rule can be laid down. The authorities must judge of every case, as it is for this that an Executive Government exists.
§ MR. DODD (Essex, Maldon)Is the law with respect to such matters in any way different in Ireland to what it is in England?