§ Mr. OUTHWAITEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether there is any precedent, outside the Transvaal, for the employment of Imperial troops in connection with a labour dispute in any part of the Empire under responsible Government?
Mr. HARCOURTI have only received the notice since I came into the House, and therefore I have not had time to look 1881 up the precedents, but I think the House will agree that in cases of urgent danger it would be impossible to refuse aid to the civil power for the preservation of life and property. I have complete confidence in the judgment and experience of Lord Gladstone.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEWill the right hon. Gentleman keep in very close communication with the Government in view of the circumstances which are likely to arise out of a strike against conditions under which quarter of the machine men perish from preventable disease, and which are likely to lead to civil war?