§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the letters and articles sent by Mr. J. J. Comerford, as correspondent of the Freeman's Journal in South Africa, posted weekly at Cradock during February and March, 1900, with two exceptions, were never received; and that, on Mr. Comerford making complaint to the Chief Military Press Censor in Pretoria of the seizure of his letters and articles, Major Sawyer was directed to investigate the matter, but on his making inquiries at Cradock he was suddenly transferred to another station, and no further step in the investigation was taken; and, having regard to the fact that Mr. Comerford has addressee repeatedly letters to the Chief Military Press Censor on this matter, and has received no reply, whether any, and if so what steps will be taken to restore to this gentleman the photographs and manu- 420 scripts seized in transmission through the post, or to compensate him for the loss of his literary work as a journalist not at the seat of war and not holding a military licence.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWas not the noble Lord a press censor?