§ 85. Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked the Home Secretary whether tribal practices of a revolting nature are permitted and witnessed by the public in the Indian reservation at the White City; whether these include the killing, stewing, and eating of dogs in celebration of the midsummer full moon, accompanied with songs, dances, and other weird and savage rites; and whether the performance of these rites in public received the sanction of the Home Office?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no practices of a revolting nature are permitted and witnessed by the public in the Indian reservation in the White City; and that it is 1499 not the case that dogs have been killed and eaten. At the feast to which the question appears to refer, a lamb, killed by a local butcher, was roasted and served to the Indians.
§ Sir W. BYLESWill my right hon. Friend send somebody to ascertain the actual facts?
§ Mr. McKENNAI believe they have been ascertained already. I believe the lamb was consumed long ago.
§ Colonel LOCKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman assure us that nothing of that nature is allowed to take place?
§ Mr. McKENNASo far as my information goes nothing of that kind is allowed or does in fact take place, but if my hon. Friend has some other information to give me I shall be very happy to inquire further.
§ Sir W. BYLESCertainly I will; but may I ask whether it is a proper Ministerial statement to say, "So far as I know nothing of the kind has occurred." May I ask him to be kind enough to send somebody to inquire?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is exactly what I have done. The answer which I gave to my hon. Friend was given to me by the polite authorities, who made inquiries and came to the conclusion that my hon. Friend's information was ill-founded.
§ Mr. EDWARD WOODWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of asking his hon. Friend to make a personal report?