HC Deb 13 June 1934 vol 290 cc1692-7
40. Mr. BERNAYS

asked the Home Secretary the number of men and women injured at meetings organised by the Fascists or at disturbances arising there-from in 1932, 1933, and to the nearest convenient date in 1934?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I am only in a position to give particulars in respect of the Metropolitan Police District. The Commissioner of Police informs me that, so far as the police are aware, no person was injured at Fascist meetings during 1932. During 1933, 10 persons (nine males and one female) and, during 1934, up to the 11th instant about 45 men and three women are known to the police to have received injuries at Fascist meetings.

41. Mr. THORNE

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report from the Commissioner of Police in connection with Fascist meetings held on Saturday night, 9th June, and Sunday night, 10th June, at Hackney, Finsbury Park, Regent's Park, Woolwich, Notting Dale, Tottenham, and Wood Green; how many people were injured and how many people were locked up; and whether he intends taking further action in the matter?

Sir J. GILMOUR

Yes, Sir; I have obtained reports from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis regarding the meetings referred to. There were minor disturbances at some of these meetings. The total number of persons known to the police to have been injured is five, and eight arrests were made. No further action in regard to these meetings is called for, but I hope to say something further on the subject generally in the course of the Debate to-morrow.

Mr. THORNE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in that report, the inspector reported the fact that a casualty van was in Finsbury Park and operations were being directed from the top of the van by one of the Fascist officers?

Mr. PIKE

Was it not for the purpose of carrying away mad Socialists?

42. Mr. HARTLAND

asked the Home Secretary what information is in the hands of the police as to weapons of any sort being used in the recent disturbances at a Fascist meeting at Olympia; and whether they were used wholly or in the main by the disturbers or the holders of the meeting?

Sir J. GILMOUR

Three of the persons arrested by the police were found on being searched to be in possession of offensive weapons, namely, a wooden truncheon, a pair of cutting pliers and an iron bolt. The police cannot say whether these weapons were used during the disturbance.

Mr. HARTLAND

Is it not possible to make sure whether any Blackshirt was possessed of these weapons, or whether they were in the possession of people with no shirts or with shirts of no distinctive colour?

Sir J. GILMOUR

It is not always easy to know which is which.

Major BEAUMONT THOMAS

Is the Home Secretary aware that these disturbances only occur when followers of the party opposite attend these meetings with the avowed intention of breaking them up?

43. Mr. HARTLAND

asked the Home Secretary, seeing that the trouble at the recent Fascist meeting at Olympia was due to organised determination to break up a lawful assembly and was caused by those in opposition to the right of free speech, and that no Government meeting can now be peacefully carried on in any Socialist centre of activity, the Government will now take steps for the maintenance of free speech?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I understand that it is the general desire that this question should be debated to-morrow, and I think it will be better to reserve any statement until then.

Mr. PIKE

Can the Home Secretary say what steps, if any, are being taken to ensure the right of free speech at the meeting to be addressed by the Prime Minister at Seaham to-morrow?

44. Mr. HARTLAND

asked the Home Secretary if he has any information to show whether the so-called Blackshirts have unduly interfered with, or attempted to break up, any meetings by declared intention, by deliberate organisation, or otherwise; and, if so, where?

Sir J. GILMOUR

It has not been possible in the time available to obtain information as regards any such incidents in respect of the country generally. So far as London is concerned I have received a report from the Commissioner of Police of one occasion on the 24th May last in which it appeared that a party of Fascists attempted to break up a meeting held at Kilburn under the auspices of the British Anti-War Movement. There was also another incident on the 24th November, 1933, when the British Union of Fascists broke up a meeting of the Imperial Fascists at Trinity Hall, Portland Place.

45. Lieut.-Colonel Sir ARNOLD WILSON

asked the Home Secretary if he can furnish a statement showing how many persons have been admitted to hospitals in the London area in connection with Blackshirt meetings during the present month; and whether any of them were suffering from injuries alleged to have been received at the hands of Black-shirts; and, if so, how many?

Sir J. GILMOUR

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the only information which he has of persons admitted to hospital suffering from in-, juries in connection with Fascist meetings during June are those arising out of the recent meeting at Olympia. In addition to the 10 persons treated at hospitals in the vicinity of Olympia, the Commissioner is informed that two women received treatment at St. George's Hospital. It is not known by whom these injuries were inflicted.

Name. Charge. Result.
Peter Tripp (35) … (1) Obstructing Police … 20s. or 7 days.
(2) Insulting words … 10s. or 7 days.
Henry J. Clark (23) … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
(2) Assault on Police …
Bartlett Becow (24) … (1) Insulting words … 20s. or 14 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … 40s. or 14 days.
(3) Offensive weapon … One month's hard labour.
Charles J. Piper (21) … (1) Insulting words … 10s. or 7 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … 40s. or 14 days.
(3) Offensive weapon … Discharged S. J. Act.
Michael Fenbloom (23) … (1) Insulting words … 20s. or 7 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … £3 or 14 days.
Thomas Day (28) … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
(2) Obstructing Police …
Jack Carson (29) … (1) Insulting words … 20s. or 7 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … £3 or 14 days.
William Howard (26) … (1) Insulting words … 20s. or 7 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … 20s. or 7 days.
(3) Wilful damage … 15s. costs.
Minnie Grizzell (42) … (1) Insulting words … Dismissed S. J. Act.
Fred Santy (18) … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 16th June, 1934.
(2) Offensive weapon …
Roy Webber (28) … (1) Drunk and disorderly … 10s.
Charles Jaquest … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
(2) Assault on Police …
Charles V. Jackson (27) … (1) Insulting words … Discharged S. J. Act.
(2) Obstructing Police … 20s.
James V. Jefferys (20) … (1) Insulting words … 10s. or 5 days.
(2) Obstructing Police … 40s. or 10 days.
Spencer T. Hattemore (17) … (1) Obstructing Police … 15s. or 5 days.
Henry Palmer (39) … (1) Insulting words … Dismissed.
(2) Disorderly conduct … Bound over 20s. for 12 months.
Gwilliam Evans (23) … (1) Insulting words … Dismissed.
(2) Disorderly conduct … Bound over 20s. for 12 months.
Ernest Wood (29) … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
Nellie Tuck (17) … (1) Insulting words … Dismissed S. J. Act.
(2) Assaulting a female Fascist 10s.
Charles Trewick … (1) Wilful damage to Omnibus Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
Morris Connor (21) … (1) Insulting words … Remanded until 14th June, 1934.
Clifford T. Bolton (25) … (1) Insulting words … 10s.
Alfred W. Goddard (27) … (1) Insulting words … 10s.
46. Sir A. WILSON

asked the Home Secretary if he can furnish a statement showing how many persons have been charged by the police in connection with disturbances relating to Blackshirt meetings in London during the present month, together with their names and their countries of origin, the nature of the offence, and the punishment, if any, awarded; and whether any of them were Blackshirts, and, if so, how many?

Sir J. GILMOUR

The number of persons charged is 36, of whom five are known to be Fascists. They are all British subjects. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement containing the other particulars asked for.

Following is the statement:

Name. Charge. Result.
Harold J. Morris … … (1) Insulting words … … Discharged S. J. Act.
Hugh Whitehall … … (1) Insulting words … … 20s.
Leslie W. M. Yeovil … … (1) Insulting words … … Discharged S. J. Act.
Arthur G. Austin … … (1) Insulting words … … 20s.
Alfred Nash … … (1) Insulting words … … 40s.
Mishael Goldberg … … (1) Insulting words … … Remanded to 13th June, 1934.
(2) Assaulting two private persons.
Morris J. Saposnick … … (1) Insulting words … … 40s.
Hyman Aarons … … (1) Insulting words … … Remanded to 15th June, 1934.
Barnet Rigrotsky … … (1) Insulting words … … 40s.
(2) Assault on Police … … 14 days' imprisonment.
Sidney Stanley … … (1) Throwing missiles … … Remanded to 15th June, 1934.
John Park … … (1) Insulting words … … Remanded to 16th June, 1934.
John Jones … … (1) Insulting words … … Remanded to 16th June, 1934.
Victor Knight … … (1) Insulting words … … Remanded to 16th June, 1934.
41. Sir A. WILSON

asked the Home Secretary if he will introduce legislation to extend the Firearms Acts to the carrying or being in possession of knuckledusters, loaded sticks, mounted razor-blades, or similar lethal weapons?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I would refer to the reply which I gave to a somewhat similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Handsworth Division (Commander O. Locker-Lampson) on 26th February last.

Mr. THORNE

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the different treatment meted out to Fascists who have been pinched and others who have been pinched?