§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a meeting that was arranged on behalf of three Independent Labour candidates 1258W at Ulster Hall, Belfast, on Tuesday evening the 17th May; whether he is aware that an organised procession from the shipyards took possession of the hall and prevented the candidates from holding their meeting; that two policemen on duty at the hall warned the candidates that their lives were in danger, and definitely stated that no protection could be granted them inside the hall; and that these officers stated that numbers of these men in the procession had revolvers; if so, why these men were not arrested; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter with a view of some action being taken to vindicate the rights of free speech, and effective steps taken to prevent a similar occurrence of these disorders?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am informed that the meeting in question, which was organised by the Labour Socialist party, was advertised as open to the general public, and that a procession of shipyard workers, availing themselves of the general invitation to attend, occupied the hall before the commencement of the proceedings. When the speakers arrived they were offered a fair hearing, provided that no disloyal or seditious utterances were made, but they refused to accept this condition. The shipyard workers delegates and the police then advised them to withdraw as disorder appeared to be inevitable if any speeches of a seditious character should be made. This advice was not accompanied by any suggestion that the shipyard workers were armed and no revolvers were produced by them at any part of the proceedings.