§ Mr. CREANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the solicitors and inspectors prosecuting in the county of Cork under the provisions of the National Insurance Act are or were members of the Hibernian (Board of Erin) Society; whether it was with his knowledge or consent that these officials prosecuted none but members of a rival organisation in the towns of Mallow, Youghal, Bandon, and Kinsale; whether he is aware that in the latter town the only persons proceeded against were the president, treasurer, secretary, and ex-secretary of the All-for-Ireland League; and, in view of the purposes for which the present officials are instituting these proceedings, he will take steps to have the Act more impartially worked?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Irish Commissioners do not inquire into the political or religious views either of their inspectors or of any solicitor who may give evidence in connection with any prosecution or of the persons prosecuted. The inspectors report all cases which they discover of resistance to the Act. Prosecutions are instituted, not by the inspectors, but by the Commissioners, who have regard only to the circumstances of the offence and neither ask, nor consider, what are the political views of the offender. It is not the fault of the Commissioners or their servants if a large proportion of resisters to the Act belong to any particular organisation.