§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether others in the same watch with Pilkington on St. Patrick's Day were wearing the shamrock without interference; and, if so, why was Pilkington singled out by the officer of the watch and ordered to remove the shamrock from his cap? I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether H.M.S. Retribution, to which Seaman Gunner Pilkington belongs, returned to England on the 12th March, after a voyage exceeding three years; whether, seeing that during that voyage Pilkington's conduct was such as to earn for him a good conduct badge, and that 24 for his first offence—namely, wearing the Shamrock on St. Patrick's Day last, he was punished by 14 days' confinement to cells, with deprivation of his good conduct badge and reduction to second class, he will inquire into the case and endeavour to learn on what grounds the officer of the watch singled out Pilkington for punishment while others also were the shamrock on that occasion; whether he is aware that Pilkington's father spent 21 years in the Service as master-at-arms; and whether he will hold out some hope of the revision of this sentence, with the prospect of restoring to Pilkington his good conduct badge and his class?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN, St. George's, Hanover Square)No report of the occurrence mentioned has been received at the Admiralty. The hon. Member seems to think that this man was punished for wearing the shamrock, though I gather from the Question itself that he was punished, not for wearing the shamrock, but for disobedience of orders on being told to remove it.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYThere is a very great distinction between the two. In the Navy disobedience of orders lawfully given by a superior officer is regarded as a very serious offence. I am not prepared to interfere in the matter.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENWhy was this man singled out from a number of others for punishment?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI have already told the hon. Member that I have received no report on the matter. I am not aware he was singled out.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this young man's hair was cut without order, and cut for the purpose of mutilating and degrading him?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI am not aware of it.
§ MR. W. H. K. REDMOND (Clare, E.)Arising out of this Question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in 25 view of the severe punishment received by this man—namely, 14 days' confinement to cells, deprivation of his good-conduct badge, and reduction to the second class—all this taking place over the wearing of the shamrock—and in consequence of very strong feeling in Ireland on this matter, he will make some representations with a view to reducing the punishment?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYI am afraid I cannot interfere in a matter of discipline of this kind. It is for the officer in command to judge the whole circumstances, and there is no presumption whatever that the officer has been either harsh or partial. The presumption in the question is that the man refused to remove the shamrock when ordered, and on board ship the lawful orders of the commanding officers must be obeyed.
§ MR. W. REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, as there is a good deal of feeling about this matter, whether, in view of the fact that some time ago soldiers were declared to be at liberty to wear the shamrock—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is entering upon a discussion of the Question.
§ MR. W. REDMONDThen I beg to give notice that I will occupy more time—
§ MR. SPEAKERThat is not an orderly way of dealing with the matter.
§ MR. W. REDMONDOn a point of order, Sir—
§ MR. SPEAKERThere is no point of order.
§ MR. W. REDMONDBut I desire to give notice, Sir, that—
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to give notice now, especially in the terms he has employed.
§ MR. W. REDMONDWell, I do give notice that I will call attention to—
§ MR. SPEAKERI must request the hon. Member to conform to the ruling of the Chair.
§ MR. W. REDMONDIt is simply scandalous.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. W. REDMONDI will not be put down like—
§ MR. SPEAKERI shall be bound to call the attention of the House more seriously to the conduct of the hon. Member if he persists in his interruptions. The conduct of the hon. Member is becoming grossly disorderly.
§ MR. W. REDMONDWell, at the risk of being grossly disorderly, I denounce this as an outrage. It is scandalous to inflict 14 days for wearing the shamrock.
§ MR. SPEAKERI have to call the attention of the House to the fact that the conduct of the hon. Member is grossly disorderly. He has repeatedly disregarded the ruling of the Chair.
§ MR. W. REDMONDThe conduct of the Government is grossly scandalous.
§ MR. SPEAKERI must ask the hon. Member to withdraw forthwith from the House for the remainder of the Sitting.
§ MR. W. REDMONDI shall do nothing of the kind.
§ MR. SPEAKERThen I call upon the Serjeant-at-Arms to see that the order is obeyed.
§ MR. W. REDMONDI sha'n't go.
[Upon the Serjeant-at-Arms approaching him the hon. Member rose from his seat and left the House, saying as he walked out—]This is a most outrageous scandal. Fourteen days for wearing the shamrock! It is an outrage; it is a scandal to give a man fourteen days for wearing the shamrock. I wish to ask what the hon. and gallant Member for York thinks of such a proceeding?
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENIn connection with the second Question on this subject I wish to point out that a portion of it has been suppressed. When I handed it in at the Table it inquired whether the First Lord of the Admiralty thought that conduct like this was calculated to attract men, and especially those of good character, to the Service, and whether—
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now asking as to a matter of opinion, and I must ask him to put the Question as it appears upon the Paper.
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENI merely want to ask that part of the Question which has been suppressed, namely, whether this sort of thing is calculated to attract good men to the Service?
MR. P. O'BRIENI should like to ask the hon. and gallant Member for York [Lord C. Beresford] whether he ever punished a man like this?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. J. F. X. O'BRIENBut part of my Question has been suppressed, and that is what I want to ask. I wish to inquire whether what has occurred is calculated to draw men of good character into the Service? Does the right hon. Gentleman think it is?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Hon. Members must conform to the Rules of the House, which do not allow questions on mere matters of opinion.