§ MR. CLYNES (Manchester, N. E.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, in view of the fact that Miss Milne, of Manchester, is now in prison for actions which are merely acts of peaceful protest, and which the evidence in the Westminister police court shows were committed, at the same time, by other ladies, he will explain why action has not been taken against these other ladies; and whether he will take steps to secure that different treatment shall not be given in the case of persons who in the same manner are proclaiming their title to a vote.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) On inquiry into the facts I find that Miss Milne was convicted of resisting the police in the execution of their duty. Their duty was to prevent an illegal assembly in the immediate vicinity of this House, and I see no reason to give them any instructions to make more arrests than are necessary for the purpose of discharging this duty.