§ MR. RANDELL (Glamorgan, Gower)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, arising out of a tinplate trade dispute, the workpeople interested held a demonstration at Gorseinon, near Swansea, on the 26th of June last, and, though orderly, were charged and batoned by a small body of police; that many persons who took no part in the proceedings were chased across the common and severely wounded by the police; that in the early morning of the follow- 22 ing day some 18 or 20 tinplate workers were resting in a timber yard by permission of the proprietor, and whilst many of them were asleep, were attacked and bludgeoned over and through a barbed wire fencing which encloses the premises, and seriously injured by the police; can he state at whose instance, and by what authority, this attack was made; and whether a full inquiry, at which the injured persons may be represented and heard, will be made into the conduct of the police on the occasions referred to?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have no direct authority over this police force, but I think I may make a suggestion to the Joint Standing Committee of the county that they might very well inquire into this matter.
MAJOR JONES&c.) (Carmarthen,Is it not a fact that while the men were marching peaceably along and singing, the proprietor of the works used language which gave offence, and, in fact, led to the disturbance which took place?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have none of the facts before me, and cannot answer without notice.