§ MR. HARRY FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that at the recent Bodmin Assizes three men named Alfred Green, Nicholas Paul Hoskin, and William Triggs, after a trial lasting seven hours, were convicted by the jury of riot and occasioning actual bodily harm, at Newlyn, to four persons, including three police officers, one of whom had his head severely cut, and the master of a Lowestoft boat, who was brutally ill-treated and permanently injured, but were discharged by the judge without punishment, being bound over in their own recognizances to come up for judgment when called upon; also that five others of the ringleaders pleaded guilty to joining in unlawful assembly in which other acts of violence were committed, including the destruction of a considerable amount of property, and that these persons were also discharged without punishment; and, whether, in view of the danger of similar riots elsewhere as a result of the unlawful proceedings at Newlyn, he will take the necessary precautions to prevent a recurrence of similar acts of violence and destruction?
§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this question, I beg to ask him a Question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether these men will be called up for judgment in the event of any further disturbance or illegal interference with the East Coast fishermen in Cornish waters?
§ * SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have received reports of the trial of the men who were charged in connection with the disturbances at Newlyn. The three men Green, Hoskin, and Triggs were found guilty of riot and assault, not of assault occasioning actual bodily harm; while four others pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly. Six of the defendants were bound over in their own recognisances to come up for judgment when called on, and Triggs was bound over in £50 and two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace. From information in my possession I believe that the great leniency which has been shown to these men is producing the best effect in the district, and that no recurrence of the late disorders is to be apprehended. The whole subject of the arrangements to be made in case of riot was most carefully considered by a Departmental Committee two years ago, and as a result of their Report suggestions were made to the different police forces of the country which were acted on in the present instance, and in my opinion with excellent results. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Yarmouth, I have only to say I imagine that, if any of these men who have now received such lenient treatment should be guilty of any further breach of the peace, they will be called up and receive judgment.
§ MR. HARRY FOSTERI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware of the fact that the East Coast fishermen have recently suffered loss to the extent of £1,300 and upwards by the destruction of their property in the recent Newlyn riots; and, in view of the fact that under the existing law they have no claim for compensation out of the police rate, and that all shipping property suffers under the same disability, whether the Government will consider the necessity of taking steps at the earliest moment for remedying this defect in the law, and to afford to shipping property the same 1559 protection as is accorded to property on land?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I have consulted with the Home Secretary, and he agrees with me that the matter is well worthy of consideration. I will further consult with him and the Law Officers as to whether anything can be done in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend.