§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the observations of the Thames Police Court magistrate as to the character of the aliens who have migrated into his district, possessing no loyalty to the flag under which they enjoy comforts and liberties not known in their own countries, and who habitually lie and suborn to perjury in Court, whilst at the same time following occupations which would be better filled by British subjects and occupying houses sorely needed by British workers; and what action, if any, he proposes to take?
§ Mr. SHORTTYes, Sir. I have seen the newspaper paragraphs referred to. There does not appear to be any action for me to take. If a magistrate, when convicting an alien, recommends him for deportation, I shall, in the absence of very strong reasons to the contrary, give effect to the recommendation. But I understand that in the case reported as the occasion for the magistrate's remarks the three defendants, though of alien origin, were British subjects—two British-born and one naturalised in 1913.