§ 51. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Home Secretary whether he has been in communication with the stipendiary magistrate for Merthyr Tydfil in reference to the stipendiary's action in taking part in a political meeting at Carmarthen on 1110 26th July last; and whether he has received assurances that the stipendiary will in future observe the assurances which he gave to the then Home Secretary in 1935 to avoid identifying himself prominently with party politics?
§ Sir S. HoareAs I have already informed the hon. Member, I have been in communication with the stipendiary magistrate, and there appears to be nothing in the incident in question which is inconsistent with his position as a magistrate, or with any undertaking given to my predecessor.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is inconsistent with the assurance that the stipendiary gave to his predecessor? He have a definite pledge that he would cease from taking any active part in politics in future, and in view of the fact that he has broken that pledge what steps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. I have had some communication with the hon. Member on the subject and have given him the details. What the gentleman did was not in contravention of any pledge that he gave. He made a resolution in a private meeting, and it was not in contravention of any pledge.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was not a private meeting but a widely advertised meeting, and that the speech of the stipendiary was widely quoted in all the South Wales Press?
§ Sir S. HoareI am informed that the meeting was private, and that the gentleman made what was virtually a formal resolution.
§ Mr. GriffithsI beg to give notice that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise this matter on the first opportunity.