§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Henry Brierley, mentioned in The Manchester Guardian of 8th inst., who was locked up for parading the streets of Manchester with a brass band and soliciting dona- 1601 tions from passers-by, and discharged on giving an undertaking not to commit the alleged offence again; is he aware that Brierley is the Chairman of No. 5 District of the Amalgamated Card and Blowing Room Operatives Association, and that he, and several other officials of that Association, were collecting funds for the men who had been locked out; and is it an offence for English operatives to collect voluntary contributions in the manner described, when it is not alleged that any riotous conduct took place or obstruction was caused?
§ MR. ASQUITHI am in communication with the Magistrates with regard to Henry Brierley, but have not yet received their reply.