§ Captain REDMOND (by Private Notice)asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on Saturday, the 10th instant, the police entered the offices of the "Waterford News," Limited, Waterford, took possession of the premises and dismantled both the job printing and newspaper plant, on the charge of publishing statements likely to cause disaffection among His Majesty's subjects. Whether this procedure completely suspends the company's business, thereby throwing out of employment twenty-one men, the majority of whom are married, and a number of girls and what steps the Government propose to take to compensate these employés whom the Government, by their own action, have caused to be unemployed?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Macpherson)I have received no notice of the question, but I am just informed that my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General has received the question. I am aware of the facts. I gave orders that the paper should be suspended, because I repeatedly warned them that their action was dangerous to the country.
§ Captain REDMONDMay I say a word by way of personal explanation. As the right hon. Gentleman has not been in his place for a considerable time in the House of Commons I naturally thought that the Attorney-General would be answering on his behalf. However, apart from that, I must ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will kindly answer the latter part of my question, and say what steps, if any, the Government intend to take to compensate these men and girls whom they have, by their own action, turned out of employment, and who are in no way responsible for the policy of the newspaper?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI quite sympathise with those people who are out of employment, but the responsibility is not the Government's. The responsibility for that cruelty belongs to the owners and editor of the paper.