§ Mr. WARDLEasked the Home Secretary if he can state how many cases of prison officers obtaining the assistance of 1019W Members of Parliament for the remedying of an alleged grievance have been brought before his notice; and what is the punishment which was meted out in these cases?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThe only case that has been recently brought to the Secretary of State's notice is that of a prison officer who, after being removed from a position of great responsibility on account of the unsatisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties attached to the post, attempted to procure his reinstatement through the intervention of a Member of Parliament, and made through him various unfounded charges against certain of his fellow officers. In view of all the circumstances of the case, the Secretary of State considered it enough to convey to the officer a strict warning that if he repeated the offence he would be unable to retain him in the service. If such conduct were to become commoner it would be impossible to treat other offenders with equal leniency.