§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the statement in The Middleton Guardian and Prestwich Advertiser of 4th March, that at Bury eight men from Roy ton and Oldham were lately brought before the Magistrates for seeking help from their friendly neighbours during the strike which is now proceeding in the cotton districts of Lancashire; whether it is a fact that they were all found to be genuine operatives, and that four were playing musical instruments, whilst four collected from the charitable public; whether the Magistrates were correct in telling them that they were violating the law; and is it illegal for cotton operatives to play musical instruments in the streets and to collect funds from passers by?
§ THE SECRETARY or STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fife, E.)I must ask my hon. Friend to postpone his question, as I have not at present had time to receive a reply from the Magistrates with whom I am in communication on the subject.
§ MR. J. BURNS (Battersea)I hope the Home Secretary, while making the investigation, will ascertain if among the Magistrates were any masters whose men are on strike, or who are in any way involved in the dispute.