Mr. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on the 2nd March the secretary of the Eastbourne Clarion Fellowship made an application to Captain Pierce, the officer in command of troops at Eastbourne, asking for permission and terms for the use of the Barrack Field, Seaside Road, Eastbourne, for 8th to 13th July, for the purpose of holding Socialist meetings, and for a pitch in the field for the Clarion van, and that this application was refused by Captain Pierce, although he has admitted that this field has been used for temperance meetings, religious meetings, and for a circus; and, in consequence of the field being refused, does he propose to take any action thereon?
§ The SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)The practice of letting the Ordnance Field for any purpose other than naval or military has been discontinued for the past two years. The noise of meetings disturbed the patients in the Military Hospital, which is adjacent to and overlooks the field.