HC Deb 29 April 1907 vol 173 cc544-5
VISCOUNT TURNOUR

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland a question of which he had given him private notice, viz., to which hon. Members the right hon. Gentleman referred in his speech at Halifax on Friday, when he said there were men in the House of Commons who made it their business at question time, day after day, to ask questions, not for the purpose of gaining information,, but to malign and misrepresent their native country.

* MR. SPEAKER

The Question does: not come within the rule of urgency.

SEVERAL NATIONALIST MEMBERS

Carrion crows Carrion crows

MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

I desire respectfully to ask you, Sir, upon what seems tome a breach of privilege, whether the Chief Secretary was entitled to say of brother Members that they ask question after question, not for the purpose of gaining information, but solely to malign and misrepresent their native country. That is a deliberate indictment of the honour and bona-fides of Members of this House.

MR. J. MACVEAGH

It was absolutely true, nevertheless.

* MR. SPEAKER

If that statement had been made within the walls of this House it clearly would not have been permissible. It would have attributed motives, and that is not permissible.

MR. BIRRELL

After what has just fallen from you, Sir, may I say that the words which I find at the foot of the Question of which the noble Lord gave me private notice are a condensation of what I actually said, which was that, as questions were constantly put to me which evidently added nothing to the information of the persons asking them, or to that of the police who are responsible for the peace in Ireland, or to my information, it would seem that the only object in putting them was to create a false impression in England of the real state of things in Ireland.

VISCOUNT TURNOUR

I apologise to the right hon. Gentleman for having taken the words of The Times report as what he said. Had I known The Times report was false I should not have put down the Question.

MR. BIRKELL

The noble Lord may not have had as much experience as I of the condensation of reports.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that he used the words? [NATIONALIST cries of "Caw, caw."]

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is not entitled to ask a question of that kind without notice.

MR. T. L. CORBETT

May I put a Question down on the Paper?

* MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member will hand in the Question I will consider it from the point of view of order.