§ MR. ARNOLD- FORSTER (Belfast, West)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the savage assault made upon the honourable Member for South Mayo at Charleville, county Cork, on Saturday last; whether he can inform the House what were the injuries sustained by the honourable Member and his friends; and, what steps he proposes to take to protect the honourable Member from violence?
§ MR. DILLONBefore the right honourable Gentleman answers that question I should like to ask whether he is aware that the assault in question was committed by 40 drunken rowdies hired by a local Unionist landlord.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! That is a form of question which would not have been accepted at the Table, and cannot be permitted as a supplementary question.
§ MR. DILLONI will ask a question which is in order; whether it has not always been ruled by you and other Speakers to be a gross act of personal discourtesy to ask a question in reference to a Member of this House without giving him notice.
§ MR. SPEAKERIf it is a question which reflects upon the conduct or character of the Member in any way it would be proper to give him notice. But the fact that an honourable Member has been assaulted does not reflect upon his character.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUR (Leeds, Central)I have ordered a report on this matter, but I have not yet received it. Therefore, it is not in my power to answer the question.