HC Deb 24 August 1909 vol 9 cc1933-5
Mr. HAZLETON

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that, in connection with the recent grave rioting at Lurgan, the urban district councillors and other prominent citizens undertook to act as special constables and to use their influence on the side of peace; can he state if their services were availed of and with what result; and whether representatives of both parties joined in this effort to secure peace and order?

Mr. W. MOORE

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether it is not the fact that when the chairman of the urban council carried out the policy in the question he was at once felled to the ground by a bottle thrown from a Nationalist public-house in Portadown?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have no knowledge as to whether that is a fact or not.

Mr. T. L. CORBETT

That is a quibble.

Mr. BIRRELL

I really do not know whether he was felled to the earth or not. If it was so, I deeply regret the occurrence. In answer to the question I am informed by the constabulary authorities that it was suggested at a meeting of the Lurgan Urban District Council on the 17th instant that members of the council should go out that night and advise the people to be peaceable. The county inspector agreed that this would be very useful. I understand that representatives of both parties joined in this effort to secure peace, and I have no doubt that their action had a beneficial effect. There was no renewal of the disturbance.

Mr. HAZLETON

asked whether the intervention of representatives of both parties during the recent rioting in Lurgan, which helped so materially to put an end to the disturbances, can be availed of by Government as a factor in permanently establishing a better state of feeling in Ulster; and whether, with this end in view, the Irish Government would be prepared, in case responsible spokesmen of both sides agreed upon a scheme of the sort, to consider the establishment of a semi-official volunteer civil guard consisting of those members of both parties in the community who are anxious for a lasting peace and who would be willing to join together and enrol themselves in such a body in the common interest?

Mr. BIRRELL

The representatives of both parties who joined in an effort to promote peace at Lurgan deserve full credit for their exertions. Concerted action on the part of the leaders of both sides with a view to control their followers is of the greatest public advantage, and the cooperation of leading members of the community using their personal influence for the preservation of the peace is always welcomed by the police. The proposals of the hon. Member are well worthy of consideration, but I am afraid that a civil guard such as is suggested would not be of much assistance to the police in the discharge of their active duties should an occasion for their intervention again unfortunately arise.

Mr. MOORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consider that it would tend more to achieve the object of the question if he would alter the present policy of giving police protection to every act of aggression and provocation on the part of Nationalists?

Mr. JOSEPH DEVLIN

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was peace both in Portadown and Lurgan until the hon. Member for North Armagh introduced a blackthorn stick and challenged—

Mr. BIRRELL

It is perfectly obvious that I cannot enter into these wretched disputes between two factions, but I hail with joy any proposal made by respectable portions of both communities to put an end to these miserable disturbances.

Mr. P. F. CURRAN

Is it the fact that in the Province of Ulster there is special protection for Orange processions as against Nationalist processions?

Mr. BIRRELL

Oh, no; I do not think there is anything of the kind. The police, wherever their services are invited, protect both parties alike.

Mr. MOORE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is a fact that no disturbance took place either in Lurgan or Portadown until questions of a highly provocative character were asked by the hon. Member for West Belfast (Mr. Devlin)?

Mr. DEVLIN

May I ask whether those evils could not have been avoided if the right hon. Gentleman had treated the Member for North Armagh as Nationalist Members are treated who go to address their constituents on legitimate public questions?

Mr. BIRRELL

I have already said I really cannot enter into these personal disputes.