§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the sitting of the Committee on the Police Day of Rest Bill, he will order a ballot to be taken of the constables of the Metropolitan Police Force on the subject; whether his attention has been called to the instructions of the Chief Commissioner of Police to the chief inspectors to ascertain from sergeants and constables their views on a number of questions dealing with weekly leave, loss of payment for such leave, a reduction of pension if such leave were granted, and other matters outside the terms of reference submitted to the Committee; and whether he sanctioned this action of the Chief Commissioner; and, whether, with a view to having a free and impartial return of the men, he will have the question of a day's rest in seven placed before them on ballot papers for them to express their votes for or against.
1728 (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) The hon. Member must have been misinformed. The Commissioner of Police informs me that he has not given instructions for any such inquiries as are mentioned in the Question. The matter is not one in which a ballot could be taken with any advantage, as the chief question involved is one of finance and of increased burden on the ratepayers.