§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI 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 transferred to another station and no further step in the investigation was taken. Whether, having regard to the fact that Mr. Comerford has addressed repeatedly letters to the Chief Military Censor on this matter, and has received no reply, any, and if so what, steps will be taken to restore to this gentleman the photographs and manuscripts seized in transmission through the post, or to compensate him for the loss of his literary work as a journalist at the seat of the war and not holding a Military licence; and, whether he can now give any, and if so what, explanation of this matter, having regard to his answer to the hon. Member for South Donegal on 16th August last, that the hon. Member for Westmoreland, who was Press Censor at Cape Town and dealt with the question as it arose, would communicate with the
†See preceding volume, p. 1313.515 hon. Member on the subject, a course which has not yet been taken.
§ MR. BRODRICKI am very sorry that, owing to a misunderstanding, the hon. Member for South Donegal has not been communicated with by the Member for Westmoreland on this subject, as I promised he should be. I understand the hon. Member for Westmoreland is communicating to the hon. Member all the information he has at his disposal.