§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home. Department if he is aware that on Sunday, 4th July, in Hyde Park, Mr. Herbert Broome, who has already secured fifty recruits for the Navy, was speaking at a recruiting meeting; that at the close of his speech a woman in the crowd asked him whether soldiers returning from the War could be sure of getting their jobs back if women had taken their places; the Mr. Broome replied that if women had taken the men's places at lower wages he was afraid not; that he deplored the fact that railway men who had been paid 27s, a week had been replaced by girls at 12s. 6d., and stated that the employers who had done this thing were not patriotic; that an officer standing in the crowd said that lie was doing more harm than good and would get into trouble; that when Mr. Broome stepped down from the platform a policeman arrested him for using words prejudicial to recruiting; and that Mr. Broome was sentenced at Marlborough Street Police Court on 5th July to twenty-one days' imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for the words that he had used; and if, in order to make it known that men who are endeavouring to forward the interests of the country shall not be victimised, he will have Mr. Broome released?
§ Sir JOHN SIMONMr. Broome was charged with making statements prejudicial to recruiting, and it was stated in evidence that in the course of his speech he made repeated references to the foolishness of men who leave good situations in order to join the Army. He pleaded guilty to the charge and expressed himself sorry for what he had said. I regret that I can find no ground; for advising any interference with the sentence.