§ 19. Mr. WATERSONasked the Chief Secretary the number of Irish creameries that have been partially and totally destroyed and how many have suffered more than one attack; and the estimated 618 damage done, the total amount claimed through the Courts, and the total amount of compensation assessed?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe following is the most recent information regarding the destruction of creameries:—
The evidence regarding the degree of destruction or damage done is in many cases very contradictory. The above details should therefore be regarded as provisional only.
Total number alleged to be damaged or destroyed 41 Number alleged to be totally destroyed 10 Number damaged and unable to work without repairs or renewals of machinery (a good deal of which has been already effected) 16 Number slightly damaged 8 Number damaged, but which were able to resume work almost at once 7
§ Mr. WATERSONHow many have suffered more than one attack?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI cannot say.
§ Mr. WATERSONCan you get the information?
Colonel LOWTHERIs it not a fact that my right hon. Friend completely disposed yesterday of the question of burning creameries, in his spirited defence of the Government's policy in Ireland, in which he trounced the leader of the Irish party?
Mr. KELLYCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us by what means he is going to arrive at the decision in which of these cases the Government will admit liability as to compensaton?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have already said that I am having all the details collected with regard to each creamery, and when all these details are collected the Government will come to the decision as to how far they are responsible for the destruction of any of them.
Mr. KELLYWill the right hon. Gentleman hear the applicants and the evidence which the applicants may wish to submit to him?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI will consider that.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether anybody has yet been arrested in connection with any of these outrages?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must have notice of that.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman appoint a Committee on Reparations judicially and fair-mindedly to go into all these questions, and not leave it to the malefactors to determine all these things?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am the Committee on Reparations.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHYou are also the malefactor.
§ 23. Mr. HOGGEasked the Chief Secretary whether an official report of the burning of the creameries at Tubbercurry and Achonry was issued from Dublin Castle to certain press representatives on or before 6th October; whether this report was drawn up by a senior police officer at the request of the Chief Secretary's Department; whether it was admitted in the report that these creameries were destroyed by constabulary; and whether this report was presented to him before 20th October, when he stated that he had never seen a tittle of evidence to prove that the servants of the Crown had destroyed creameries?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI have now received the full reports of the destruction of these two creameries, to which my attention had not been drawn on the 20th October when I made the observation to which the hon. Member refers, and I now find that it is admitted in each case that the burning was committed by members of the police force on the 1st October in an outburst of passion evoked by the brutal murder of District Inspector Brady and the wounding of another of their comrades on the evening of the previous day.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf my right hon. Friend finds that he himself is not in possession of the evidence which enables him to give a correct answer in this House, will he or the Prime Minister give us the Committee of Inquiry that we want in order to investigate the real facts?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is admitted that the police committed this crime, and have any of them been arrested for that?
Colonel C. LOWTHERIs the right hon. Gentleman going to institute an investigation every time a British officer or soldier or policeman is slandered?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHHe admits it.
§ Mr. DEVLINWill the right hon. Gentleman please answer my question, whether, if he knows, as he states he knows, that the police did this, the criminals are to be brought to justice?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI protest against the suggestion that they are criminals. I have admitted the destruction by the police. As to how far they were justified in the destruction I am not yet in a position to say.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my right hon. Friend seriously ask the House to believe that on the 25th November, more than a month after the 20th October, when this report was presented, he, as Chief Secretary—and he tells us he is everything in Ireland—does not know that these constables have been arrested?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODNo, I did not say that, and I do not know that these constables have been arrested.
§ Mr. WATERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman take cognisance of the fact that the manager's house was riddled with bullets, and has he made any further inquiries since the deputation met him?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODYes, I have met the manager of this creamery and have had a report by the police. He was considered by them to be one of the extreme Sinn Feiners of the neighbourhood.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHMay I ask whether arson is a crime, and, if so, whether those who commit arson are not criminals?
§ Mr. DONALDIs the right hon. Gentle man aware that hon. Members would give far greater service to Ireland if they would assist to put a stop to this state of affairs—
§ Mr. DEVLINWhat about Belfast?
§ Mr. DONALD—instead of helping the Sinn Fein propaganda, because that is what they are doing?
§ Mr. DEVLINGo and protect the houses that were burned out in Lisburn.