§ COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Rev. Mr. O'Hara, P.P., a member of the Congested Districts Board, attended and was on the platform at a meeting recently held at Cahir, County Mayo, at which Mr. W. O'Brien strongly advocated boycotting landgrabbers, and that the Rev. Mr. O'Hara addressed the meeting, and said the speech of William O'Brien reminded him of the good old times; and 288 whether the Governement propose taking any further steps to prevent such intimidation?
The HON. MEMBER also asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he is aware that since the meeting held recently at Cahir, County Mayo, at which landgrabbers were denounced, the two persons denounced as landgrabbers, on whose farms the meeting was held, have been boycotted, and refused provisions in the locality; (2) whether he is aware that the attendance of children at the national school in the neighbourhood has largely fallen off owing to the presence of the landgrabbers' children; and (3) whether, seeing that it has been found necessary to draft a large number of police to the district on Sundays to protect these men going to and returning from mass, he will state what steps the Government intend to take to prevent and punish this mode of intimidation?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIn answer to the first Question, it is a fact that the Rev. Mr. O'Hara was on the platform with Mr. O'Brien on the occasion referred to, and addressed the meeting; but, save for the report in the Freeman's Journal newspaper, we have no evidence that he used the language attributed to him. The Government have given directions that a shorthand writer should in future attend any meetings of a similar character that may be held in this district—[cries of."Oh"!]—and, should sufficient evidence be forthcoming, the Government will not hesitate to enforce the law against any person violating it.[Ironical Irish cheers.]In reply to the second Question, it does not appear from the report appearing in the Freeman's Journal that any persons were denounced by name, but it is the fact that the two persons in occupation of evicted farms, on one of which the meeting was held, have been boycotted and refused provisions in the locality. The facts are also substantially as stated in the second and third paragraphs. Police protection of the most ample character is being given to the boycotted persons, and all further steps that may appear necessary will be taken to prevent and punish injury and outrage of any kind.[Ironical Irish cheers.]
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)Can the right hon. Gentleman 289 tell us when was the last occasion that a shorthand writer was sent to take notes of a public meeting in Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI do not think it has happened since I have had the honour of holding my present office.
§ MR JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly inform us, in connection with the sending of shorthand writers to meetings in Ireland, whether the abominable system is to be reintroduced of surrounding them in the midst of the meetings with bodies of police with deadly weapons in their hands?[Ministerial laughter.]
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURIt is necessary that a shorthand writer sent to attend a meeting should receive adequate protection.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)With reference to the statement that no person was denounced by name in the speech, I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether I was not very largely denounced in that speech? [Laughter.]
§ MR. DILLONAs the practice is now being recognised of sending shorthand writers to meetings in Ireland, I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give us any assurance that they will not be forced into the middle of the crowd surrounded by police?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWhatever provisions may be necessary to enable the shorthand writer to take his notes will of course he made. ["Hear, hear."] I may say in connection with what has fallen from the hon. Member that, while we have directed that a shorthand writer should attend meetings of a similar description to that addressed by Mr. O'Brien in this district, at present, at all events, and I hope in the future, it will not be necessary to extend it beyond that.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Will the right hon. Gentleman say that he will not introduce to these meetings his old friends the constabulary notetakers.
[No answer was given.]