§ MR. LEAMY (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, how many Members of this House representing Irish constituencies have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment in Ireland during the past twelve months on charges based upon political speeches made by them; how many of them have been sentenced to hard labour; and will he say if such sentence involves sleeping on a plank bed and a dietary for several days of bread and water.
§ MR. WYNDHAMExclusive of the case of the hon. Member for East Clare, who has been ordered by the King's Bench Division to give sureties for good behaviour or to go to prison in default, seven Members wore convicted and sentenced to imprisonment during the past twelve months. One was convicted on three different occasions, and one on two occasions. Appeals were lodged against seven convictions; in four cases the convictions were confirmed, and in three the appeals are pending. Another
†See (4) Debates, cxi., 1072, et seq238 conviction came before the Superior Court on a case stated, which was dismissed. Four Members were sentenced to hard labour; on appeal, this was removed in two cases. A sentence of hard labour involves sleeping on a plank bed, without a mattress, for the first fourteen days of sentence, unless the Medical Officer shall otherwise order.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWhat about the raiders?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWhat about Jameson? [Nationalist cheers and disorder.]
§ MR. WYNDHAM (continuing)The Irish Prison Rules, like those in operation in England, prescribe that every prisoner shall be supplied with "a sufficient quantity of wholesome food, according to a scale or scales of diet." If the hon. Member will refer to these Rules, which have been laid on the Table of the House, he will find that a sentence of hard labour does not entail a dietary of bread and water.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there has been any case before of proceedings under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act of 1887 where sentences of hard labour were imposed?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIn reply to a previous Question, I stated that there were 1,601. [A NATIONALIST MEMBER: That was the total convictions.]
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYCases with hard labour?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir; 1,601 cases where the sentence imposed by the Court of First Instance entailed hard labour.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLUtterly wrong.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYDo you mean that under the administration of the Prime Minister in Ireland there were 1,601 cases of hard labour?
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.Under me, and subsequently.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY1,601 cases of hard labour?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThat is so.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI mean, of course, for offences under the Criminal Law Procedure Amendment Act (Ireland), 1887?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir.
§ MR. LOGANI desire to ask whether I am right in supposing that a sentence which carries with it hard labour also carries disqualification to sit as a county or district councillor.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order‡ That does not arise out of the Question. The Question has been fully answered.
§ MR. DEVLIN (Belfast S.)I would ask, Sir——
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDClosure him; he has only spoken once, like O'Donnell.
§ MR. DEVLINagain rose.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ‡ There must be some end to these supplementary Questions.
§ MR. DEVLINonce more rose.
§ * MR. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Member rise on a point of order?
§ MR. DEVLINYes, Sir. I want to know whether hard labour was inflicted on Mr. O'Brien when he was convicted.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order‡ I must ask the hon. Member to conform to the rules of the House. Rightly or wrongly, the Speaker has to be the judge in these matters, and I have given my decision.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDrose to put a further Question.
§ * MR SPEAKERThe hon. Member has been long in the House, and he must know that business cannot be properly conducted if Members persist in putting these supplementary Questions.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI have no desire whatever to unduly prolong Questions, but am I not entitled to ask a Question arising out of a reply of the right hon. Gentleman as to the accuracy of one of the statements he made?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put down his Question. The Question on the Paper has been fully answered.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDThen I beg to give notice that I will put down a Question.
§ MR. MACVEAGHAre you aware that the Clerks at the Table have repeatedly ruled that they cannot allow a Question bearing upon a Question which has already been answered?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe rulings are given by me, and not by the Clerks at the Table. A Question may be put to elicit a particular fact without referring to an answer previously given.
§ MR. MACVEAGHMine has been rejected for that reason.