§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say why he stated at Skipton that the Belfast Corporation only employed one Roman Catholic and that he was a scavenger; whether he is aware that in fact the Belfast Corporation employ upwards of 900 Roman Catholics; and whether he will withdraw his statement?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI never made any such statement. As to the number of Roman Catholic tramwaymen, labourers, and scavengers, employed by the Belfast 1566 Corporation I have no knowledge, or means of knowledge, but I have no doubt there are several hundreds.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Belfast Corporation passed a resolution repudiating as wholly untruthful and without foundation the statement he made at Skipton, and the Catholic members of the council did not dissent from the resolution?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI think it is the fact that the Belfast Corporation passed some such resolution, but they never communicated with me beforehand to ask me whether I ever made such a statement, nor have they ever sent me a copy of the resolution.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I hold in my hand a newspaper report of his speech, practically verbatim?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWhat newspaper?
§ Sir J. LONSDALEA most respectable and reputable paper called the "Dublin Express."
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can only say I never made any such statement.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are only nine salaried officials out of 437 employed by the Corporation of Belfast who are Catholics, and that their salaries are only, roughly, £700 out of a total of £68,700?
§ Sir J. LONSDALEDo not the statistics prove beyond doubt that over £48,000 per annum is paid to Roman Catholic employés of the Belfast Corporation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI know nothing, and desire to know nothing.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what method the Belfast Corporation has of finding out the religion of its employés?