§ MR. MACDONALD (Tower Hamlets, Bow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. Mead, the Magistrate of the Thames Police Court, when trying on 14th March one of the girls at present on strike at the works of Messrs. Bell, match makers, at Bow, for window breaking, addressed one of the witnesses in the case to the effect that unless she was careful she would find herself in his Court; that it was disgraceful and scandalous that she should have interfered with other girls trying to earn an honest living; that she had no business at Messrs. Bells' gate; that she would neither work herself nor let others work; that she had tried to intimidate girls on their way to work, and that he would not allow it; and that if she were brought before him he would deal severely with her; and, if such 580 words were used, what action he proposes to take in reference to a Magistrate who so addresses a witness with reference to whom or to whose action there was no evidence and no question before the Court; and whether the Magistrate's statement that the witness had no business at Messrs. Bells' gate is in accordance with the law as it relates to what is known as picketing?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have been informed by the Magistrate that the witness in question, upon being asked in cross-examination what her object was in going to the factory, stated that it was to "hoot and holloa." At the end of her evidence he thought it only fair to point out to her that such conduct was wrong, and might bring her into trouble and cause her to be charged at the Police Court. He further explained that she and her friends had a perfect right to refuse to work for any individual, but that she had no right to try and intimidate others from doing the work which she thought proper to refuse to do. He said, further, that if cases of intimidation and violence were brought before him he should have to deal severely with them. He informed me that no question of legal "picketing" was raised, and that he did not in any way condemn that practice.
§ MR. MACDONALDDid the learned Magistrate tell the girl she had no right to stand in the gate?
§ MR. ASQUITHHe told her she had no right to stand therefor the purpose of hooting and holloaing.