MR. THEORNEI beg to ask the secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in a number of cases tried at the quarter sessions for the county of Carmarthen, on January 5th last, the Treasury instructed a local solicitor to brief a Kings Counsel to prosecute; whether he is aware that the prosecution in such cases was for intimidation arising out of a trade dispute; and whether he will state the circumstances which made it advisable for the Treasury to intervene.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir JOHN WALTON, Leeds. S.)replied that the Director of Public Prosecutions, to whose Department the Question referred had informed him he was urged by the local police to take up the prosecution mentioned in the Question and declined to do so, but he authorised the employment of a K.C., in order to ensure that the prosecution should lie in the hands of counsel of experience and standing, who might, if he thought proper, withdraw it. The implication in the Question that the Public Prosecutor was animated by some desire to ensure a conviction, was unfounded and entirely contrary to the fact.