§ 10. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is satisfied that he is receiving correct reports of conditions in Newfoundland; and whether he will make an investigation into the sources of his present information?
Mr. J. H. THOMASIt is, I am sure, unnecessary for me to say that I have complete confidence in the reports furnished to me by the Governor and the Commission of Government.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman been made acquainted with events there on the 10th of this month, and can he tell the House something of the unfortunate consequences?
Mr. THOMASImmediately on seeing the report, I telegraphed for information, and this is the reply:
The Commission of Government at a recent meeting decided to refuse demands by an unemployed committee composed of five professional agitators, for recognition of themselves as representing the unemployed and for complete control of the temporary relief work on road repair etc. approved recently by the Commission. Following this refusal a meeting of the unemployed was called by the committee for 3 p.m. on 10th May. A crowd consisting of about 400 unemployed, largely youths and large numbers of spectators, then assembled and marched to the Colonial Building and attempted to enter it. General stone-throwing against the police occurred. The police, numbering about 70, drew their batons and charged. The whole affair did not last two minutes. Five policemen were injured by stones, two slightly, three more seriously. Of the demonstrators several were struck by batons. The demonstration was obviously organised, and Press photographers were present.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman now any reason to doubt the statement of the writer who sent the article to the "Daily Herald," and was he aware when he made his previous reply that the writer, although he was prosecuted in 1925, was exonerated afterwards by the Attorney-General who conducted his case?
Mr. THOMASI observed the "Daily Herald's" comments and I also took the necessary steps to ascertain all the information at our disposal about this gentleman. I am prepared to send to my hon. Friend or to any other Member of the House a copy of the report showing the admissions made by this gentleman at the time.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to reply to the question? Was he aware that the person referred to has never been convicted of misappropriating funds in this or any other case?
Mr. THOMASI am well aware of the admissions of the writer in question. He is the one involved in these latest demonstrations. I am well aware of the admissions made by himself as to misappropriation. I have already indicated that I will send to my hon. Friend a copy of this gentleman's own admissions.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Mabane.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSOn a point of Order. Is it not in order to ask for a specific reply to be made to a specific question where statements have been made against an individual who has no opportunity for replying to the statements himself?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is in order and I have allowed the hon. Member to put the same question twice. I have no control over the reply which the hon. Member receives.