§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Board of Admiralty to appoint a stoker on the court of inquiry into the riots at Portsmouth so as to ensure that the men's side of the case will be fully considered.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe court of inquiry has concluded its investigation and has sent in its Report. 1033 As I have already stated, the court was composed of a Rear Admiral and a Commodore.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether there is any record at the Admiralty concerning an order given to stokers on Portsmouth Parade, on the 24th November, 1905, in which the words were used: "Get down on your knees, you dog;" whether a stoker was on that occasion kept on his knees for a period of five minutes: who was the officer on the occasion; and did he, by direction of his superior officers subsequently offer an apology to the stoker concerned.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThere is no such record at the Admiralty, and the allegation is denied at Portsmouth. If the hon. Member can furnish me with the name of the officer to whom he refers, immediate action will be taken. In the meantime an inquiry is being instituted. In reply to a supplementary Question sent me by the hon. Member I have to say that the Report of the court of inquiry has only just reached the Admiralty, and we have not had time to consider the question, but I hope within two or three days to be able to state what action the Admiralty propose to take.
§ * MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Scotland when we say our prayers in church we do not even go on our knees to our Maker, and we do not in this House? Will he consider the advisability of withdrawing this Order?
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the officer in question paid the stoker £150 in order to hush the matter up?
§ [No Answer was returned.]