HC Deb 22 March 1911 vol 23 c411
Mr. LEE

I beg to ask a question of the First Lord of the Admiralty, of which I have given him private notice, whether his attention has been called to statements in the Press relating to the exclusion of certain members of the crew of H.M.S. "Hermione" from an entertainment held in the Town Hall, Barrow-in-Furness, on 17th March, on the sole ground that they were in uniform; whether any official protest has been made in connection with this incident; and whether he will take steps to prevent the occurrence of any similar insults to His Majesty's uniform in the naval service?

Mr. McKENNA

I telegraphed to Barrow last night for information upon this subject. No report, I regret to say, has yet been received, but I hope to be able to-morrow to answer the question, which is already on the Paper starred, upon this particular point.

Sir HENRY DALZIEL

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will also inquire at the same time whether it is not the case that the organiser of the particular gathering referred to stated that the place was already full; and that admission was denied to everyone as well as to officers?

Mr. McKENNA

I daresay that it will turn out that there is some reasonable explanation of the circumstances such as that suggested by my hon. Friend.