§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that a party of continental gipsies, numbering twelve, landed at Leith on Saturday from the ss. "Cumberland," and another of fourteen on Sunday from the ss. "Weimar"; that these twenty-six aliens had previously been refused admission at Hartlepool; that on arrival they at once joined another band, numbering twenty-two, and are proceeding through the country with them; and whether His Majesty's Government are yet prepared to announce what steps they intend to take to abate this nuisance.
§ * MR. GLADSTONEYes, Sir; I am aware of the further arrivals of foreign gipsies stated in the Question; and I think there is little doubt that they are the persons who, in a party of twenty-six, were recently prevented from landing at the non-immigration port of West Hartlepool. In view of the considerable number of these persons, prima facie undesirable, who have been brought by the ships belonging to James Currie & Co. of Leith, and in view of the fact that the traffic has been obviously organised so as to escape inspection, I have decided to provide for the inspection of alien passengers on board Messrs. Currie's ships. For this purpose, I am making an order 1483 under Section 8 (2) of the Act, fixing the I number 2 as that which will constitute those ships immigrant ships, and subject them to inspection.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYWill you also make two the number for the Port of London?
§ * MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir; but if I am told there is any necessity I will look into the question.