HC Deb 29 March 1900 vol 81 cc691-2
MR. MADDISON (Sheffield, Brightside)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the rioting which took place at Margate on the 14th and 15th instant, whereby the premises of a tradesman named W. J. Powell were wrecked; whether he is aware that Mr. Powell and his wife and family were afraid for several days to come into the town because of threatened violence; that the chief constable promised the mob that if they would disperse he would release two men who had been arrested for riotous conduct, which was done, and that the Mayor of Margate stated publicly that Mr. Powell had brought the trouble on himself, though his only offence was that he is opposed to the war in South Africa; and whether he will take steps to afford adequate police protection to Mr. Powell and his family and to others who may hold his views about the war.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

My attention has been called to the recent serious and discreditable disturbances at Margate, and I regret to find that the windows of Mr. Powell's premises were broken and damage done to some furniture which was exposed for sale. The authorities had no reason to believe that Mr. Powell or his family were afterwards afraid to come into the town, or that personal violence had been threatened. It is the fact that three men who had been arrested were released by the chief constable, and in the difficult circumstances in which the police officers found themselves placed I see no reason to doubt that this action was judicious. The mayor admits having stated subsequently that in his opinion Mr. Powell's conduct invited what happened. Besides his opposition to the war, there seems—rightly or wrongly—to have been a popular belief that Mr. Powell had given various indications of a feeling of disloyalty towards Her Majesty. [Cries of "Oh, oh!"] I am giving the report the mayor has given me. A proclamation was issued by the police on the 16th inst. warning all persons not to take part in any breach of the peace, and there seems no reason to expect any further disturbance. The local police force is small, I but every available man was made use of, and if necessity should arise the mayor can, as I am pointing out to him, of course borrow officers from neighbouring forces. The local authorities are alive to their responsibilities, and I trust they will be supported by the inhabitants of Margate in their efforts to prevent any breach of the peace being caused by excited political feelings.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

Is opposition to the war, in the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman, an act of disloyalty?

[No answer was given.]