§ Captain MARTINasked the Home Secretary whether he will take into his consideration the facts that the wives and families of many of the Metropolitan police constables who were dismissed for striking are now in circumstances of extreme hardship; that the men themselves have little or no experience of other occupations and find the greatest difficulty in obtaining any kind of employment; that they have already suffered considerable punishment and admit their fault; that their former comrades would welcome their reinstatement; and that there is small probability of a recurrence of disaffection in the Force; and whether he will do his utmost to reconcile the public interest with a measure of generosity in the case of these men?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have given full consideration to all the circumstances, and I much regret the hardship which some of the wives; and families have suffered. But, as I have already stated, the men have showed themselves unfit for the responsible position of police constables, and the decision of the Government not to reinstate them cannot he altered. The best thing the men can do is to make up their minds to find other employment, as a large proportion of them have already done. The Commissioner is ready to give recommendations to all who, previous to their refusal of duty, had served with good conduct.