§ Captain REDMOND (by Private Notice)asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the commercial and industrial transport of Ireland is at a. standstill, as a result of the Motor Permit Order, and what action he intends to take to remove this serious menace to Irish trade?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Macpherson)I am not aware that the facts are as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. In any case, I do not propose to withdraw the Order.
§ Captain REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what was the original purport and purpose of this Order, and if any useful purpose is being brought about now by the continuance of the exceedingly aggravating, unconstitutional, and undemocratic practice?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Order does not inflict any hardship upon any loyalist in Ireland. It is a well-known fact that in almost every outrage of a serious kind in Ireland during recent months motor cars have been used. All that I ask of loyal Irishmen is to submit to the taking out of a permit, and, as I have said, I do not think there is any hardship whatever, and I refuse to withdraw it.
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not a fact that in all quarters of Ireland, and among alt sections and classes of the people of Ireland, this Order is detested—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—that the Motor Operatives Union, which is not a political union, but a trade union pure and simple, has declared against it; that great industrial and commercial concerns have been almost brought to the stage of having to close down their factories; and is this not a serious menace to Irish trade? I further ask whether a single Irish outrage—which no one deplores and detests more than I do myself, and those associated with me—will be prevented or stopped by this iniquitous and aggravating Order?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONObviously the object of the Order is to prevent such 911 outrages, and I am convinced, in my own mind, this Order will be most beneficial, and all my advisers think so, too. Needless to say, I did not issue this Order so that it might be vexatious to the Irish people—far from it. I thought then, and I think still, that any man who has really the interests of peace and law and order in Ireland at heart will be only too glad to abide by the Order, because it is one of the measures which the Government is bound to take to preserve the peace of the country and the lives of loyal subjects.
§ Captain REDMONDDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny the fact I have stated that this great mechanics' trade union in Ireland has struck against it, and does he deny that motor transport is held up all over Ireland at the present time? [HON. MEMBERS: "NO!"] I Does he seriously consider that the issue of this aggravating Order is going to stop a single outrage in Ireland, or is he really going out of his way to prepare that peaceful atmosphere for the wonderful settlement he is going to bring about as a Christmas pantomime?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think I have already answered this question.
§ Captain REDMONDNot about this.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI did take the trouble to see a deputation of the motor trade union. I listened to them patiently and the chairman of the Labour party for two hours, and they were not able to advance a single argument except one, and that was that they objected to any restrictions being placed upon them by an alien Government.
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not a fact?