281 Home Department-Use {SEPTEMBER 12, 1887} of Electric Light in Mines. 282 INLAND REVENUE-UNPAID LEGACY DUTY. payment of Legacy Duty; and it had been the practice for some time past to go back a long way when duty had not been paid. He admitted that this was a very strong case; but, at the same time, he doubted whether in conformity with the ordinary practice and with safety to the Revenue, the claim could be waived. WAR OFFICE (ORDNANCE STORE DE- GENERAL. the Secretary of State for War, Whe- have not served in the field? E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horn- MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.) for Mr. DEASY) (Mayo, W.) asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether his attention has been drawn to a case in Ireland where the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have demanded Legacy Duty, after the lapse of about 50 years; whether it is alleged that the duty was paid in 1840; and, whether, having regard to the fact that nearly half a century has passed since the death of the testator upon whose property it is sought to recover Succession Duty, and to the statement that this charge was long since met, he will direct that no further proceedings be taken by the Commissioners ? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-General, to the detriment of officers of QUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square): There has been a case in Ireland where the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have recently demanded Legacy Duty which became due and payable upwards of 40 years ago. It is alleged that the duty was paid in 1840. The facts are these:In 1840 a person died, leaving by will. property to her sister for life, and afterwards to nephews and nieces. duty on the sister's life interest was paid. On her death, in 1846, duty became payable on the gifts to the nephews and nieces, and it was for the executor of the will of the first-mentioned person to pay it. This he omitted to do. Application was not at the time made by the Department, as they were without information with regard to the sister's death. That information was only obtained at the beginning of this year, when a claim was at once made upon the representative of the executor who should have paid the duty. The money has been due to the Revenue for some 40 years, with interest. Directions cannot be given that no further proceedings be taken for the duty so long overdue; but, under the circumstances, the claim for interest will not be pressed. : The MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.) asked would the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he ought not to apply the Statute of Limitations with regard to such an old case as this? MR. GOSCHEN said, there had always been considerable difficulty in ascertaining deaths which involved the HOME DEPARTMENT-USE OF ELEC- MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that as yet the use of the electric light has been adopted only in very few mines in the United Kingdom, and whether, in view of the fact that its general use would certainly reduce the danger of explosives from fire-damp to a minimum, or even secure the most absolute immunity from them, he will state what steps, if any, he is prepared to take in order to induce colliery proprietors and others to allow no portable lamps, otherwise than such as may be lighted by electricity, to be used by persons in their employ; and, whether his attention has been called to the Eclipse Miner's Safety Lamp, recently exhibited for several days in Committee Room E, and if he is aware that the leading mining delegates have not only expressed their approval of this portable lamp, which gives a far better light than the Metzler or any other improved form of Davey's Safety Lamp, and one which cannot under any circumstances create danger | said, he was informed that in the case by exposure to fire-damp, but also their referred to the prisoner's solicitor asked determination to insist upon its general Mr. Montagu Williams to send the case use? for trial. When told by the magistrate that he had no intention of sending the case for trial, the solicitor did not call any witnesses, though Mr. Williams said he would have heard any evidence that might have been produced. THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.), in reply, said, he was aware that the electric light had been little used in mines; but he looked forward to that light being one of the best safeguards against explosion. He had seen several electric lamps, including the "Eclipse," and what he had seen made him sanguine that the problem of constructing a safety lamp such as would satisfy practical requirements would shortly be solved, if it had not been solved already. He would be glad to do anything in his power, when such a lamp was invented, to induce mine owners to adopt it; and he rejoiced to hear that Mining Delegates would use their influence in the same direction. MR. KELLY asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman could make arrangements for an exhibition of such portable electric lamps as would be useful in coal and other mines? MR. MATTHEWS: I am afraid I have no means at the Home Office to hold an exhibition either of lamps or any other articles. LAW AND JUSTICE-CASE OF HENRY SKINNER. MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the fact that a man named Henry Skinner was, on the 23rd of August last, sentenced by Mr. Montagu Williams to two months' hard labour for an assault; whether at the trial, in consequence of the magistrate's strong expression of opinion in favour of sending the case for trial, the prisoner's solicitor declared his intention of reserving his defence, and of calling his witnesses at the Assizes; whether, in spite of that, and without giving the prisoner's solicitor any opportunity of calling his witnesses, the magistrate proceeded at once to deal with the case himself; whether, under any circumstances, a magistrate has the right to refuse to hear witnesses called for the defence of a prisoner; and, whether he will direct à further inquiry into the case? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.), in reply, HOME DEPARTMENT ARREST OF DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that William Delany, of Cork, has been arrested at Cardiff for non-payment of Income Tax, and that he has no means of paying the same; and, how long it is intended to keep him in prison? THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA SURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.) asked permission to answer the Question, as the subject concerned the Inland Revenue. Telegraphic inquiry was being made respecting the subject of the arrest of Mr. Delany, of which nothing was known at head-quarters. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would give him the information in his possession in reference to it. DR. TANNER asked the hon. Gentleman, if he was aware whether Mr. Delany was resident in Cork or Cardiff; and, if he was arrested in Cardiff, for what reason had he been arrested? MR. JACKSON replied, that he had already stated that he was unable to obtain the information, because the arrest was unknown at head-quarters. If the hon. Gentleman gave him the information, he would forward it to head-quarters. DR. TANNER said, it was a fact that Mr. Delany had been arrested. He would put the Question down for tomorrow? MUSIC-THE EDUCATION CODE (IRE- DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid) asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, inasmuch as music is entitled under the Public Libraries (Ireland) Amendment Act of 1877 to be placed on an equal footing with science and art in Ireland, and that instruction in music of an elementary character is the Irish Law Officers reported on the already encouraged under the Education Petition for the grant of a City Charter Code, and considering the success at- to Belfast; what is the cause of the tendant upon the instruction given by dely in finally dealing with the Petition; the Cork School of Music, notably in and, when he expects to be able to anthe training of National School teachers, nounce the granting of the Charter? he will consider the advisability of giving an ad interim grant to the school, upon the same lines as the Parliamentary grant to the Royal Academies of Music in Dublin and in London? THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster): I am sorry to say that I have not yet received the information which would enable me to give an answer to the hon. Gentleman. It has been in some way mislaid. I must ask him to repeat the Question to-morrow. THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, a Memorial in this case was received from the Corporation of Cork in December last, and had been con- METROPOLIS-REGULATION AND INsidered by the Treasury. They had come to the conclusion that the Treasury could not be asked to make a grant in aid of the Cork School of Music. SPECTION OF THEATRES AND OTHER PLACES OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT. SIR ALGERNON BORTHWICK (Kensington, S.) said, he desired to put TITHE RENT-CHANGE-LEGISLATION. a Question to his right hon. Friend the MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford Uni- Secretary of State for the Home Departversity) asked the First Lord of the ment, of which he had given him private Treasury, Whether, as Her Majesty's Notice. It was to ask whether Her MaGovernment are not prepared to recom-jesty's Government would this Session mend the issue of a Royal Commission on the subject of Tithe Rent-Charge, he will give an assurance to the House that the matter shall receive the early attention of Parliament in the next Session? THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, that the subject would receive the attention of Her Majesty's Government during the Recess; and he had every hope that it would be in their power to ask the early attention of Parliament to it next Session. MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden) asked, whether the Government would limit their proposals to the Bill of this year; and whether they could not see their way to extending the Scope of the new Bill, so as to remedy the abuses of the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, and to bring about a readjustment of the impost? MR. W. H. SMITH said, he had already stated that the Government would give the matter their most serious consideration; and it must be obvious to the hon. Member that he could not now say what the result of that consideration would be. IRELAND-BELFAST-GRANT OF A CITY CHARTER. MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.) asked the First Lord of the Treasury, When introduce a short measure conferring power on Her Majesty in Council to issue orders for the regulation and inspection of theatres and other places of public amusement, such orders to be valid until a more comprehensive measure could be adopted by Parliament ? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWs) (Birmingham, E.): I am afraid that at this period of the Session we could hardly undertake to pass a Bill, however short, upon this subject. Her Majesty's Government are, however, fully sensible of the great importance of the matter to which my hon. Friend's Question relates; and I think I can undertake, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, that we will, at the earliest possible opportunity, offer practical suggestions to any theatrical manager who chooses to avail himself of them for securing the safety of the public in the practical details of the construction of a theatre. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) — FATAL CONFLICT WITH "MOONLIGHTERS" NEAR ENNIS. MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.): I beg to ask my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the following Question, of which I have given private Notice:-If the report is correct that Head Con stable Whelehan, of Ennis, was brutally | which he had given Notice to the hon. murdered yesterday by Moonlighters Members for West Nottingham (Mr. near Lisdoonvarna, and that another Broadhurst) and Haggerston (Mr. member of the Royal Irish Constabu- Cremer). In The Times of that day the lary was mortally wounded on the same hon. Member for Haggerston was reoccasion; and, further, whether it be ported to have said that the hon. Memcorrect, as reported in The Globe ber for West Nottingham had placed newspaper, that amongst eight persons several Amendments on the Paper to arrested in connection with the assassi- the Truck Bill; but was led by Mr. nation of Whelehan, one is from County Bradlaugh to leave the House, in the Tipperary, and another from County belief that the Bill would not be taken. Kerry. He begged to assure the House that if the hon. Member for West Nottingham was under such an impression it was an erroneous one, and nothing he had said could have conveyed it to him. He had waited many nights to get the Bill through, and did not in any case abandon the hope of doing so till after halfpast 1, and he always informed hon. Members of his intention to proceed with the Bill on every possible occasion. THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.): In answer to my hon. Friend, I think I had better read the information I have received from the District Inspector: : Copy of telegram, 12th September, 1887. District of Ballyvaughan: Sub-district, Lisdoonvarna: Townland, Ballygastel; House, Thomas Sexton, Police captured five Moonlighters last night. Head Constable Whelehan from Ennis killed. Constable John Connel, Andrew Donohoe, Patrick M'Dermot, seriously hurt. Two revolvers and ammunition captured. Five arrests." PUBLIC MEETINGS (METROPOLIS)— THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH. MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.) said, that he desired to put to the Secretary of State for the Home Department a Question of urgency and public importance, more immediately affecting his own constituents. On Saturday night a meeting was held at Hackney Wick, under the presidency of Mr. James Branch, of Bethnal Green Road, to protest against the action which the Government was now taking in Ireland. The meeting was a peaceful and orderly one; but it appeared that on Sunday the police visited the business premises of the chairman, and made inquiries from him, and also for the names of those who took part in that meeting. He wished to ask by whose and whether their object was to intimi directions those inquiries were made, persons in the exercise of the right of free speech? MR. SPEAKER: Dr. TANNER again rose- THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.): I have no knowledge whatever of the circumstances which the hon. Member has stated. I must ask him to give THE TRUCK BILL-PERSONAL EXPLA- Notice of the Question. NATION. MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton): wished to make a personal statement, of MR. PICKERSGILL: Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries? MR. MATTHEWS: Certainly. ORDERS OF THE DAY. -0 CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIA- police and to the military forces in Ireland with reference to their action at public meetings. Do not let us be told that these are confidential instructions which ought not to be revealed. The (Mr. Courtney, Mr. Chancellor of the Exche- Chief Secretary for Ireland has no diffi quer, Mr. Jackson.) COMMITTEE. Order for Committee read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair." culty whatever in revealing these instructions when he chooses. I think the first fruit of his administration in Ireland was the open telegram to the police, which was couched, I think, in these words "Do not hesitate to shoot; " and I want to know whether those instructions are the general in CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND)-structions of the Irish Government to RIGHT OF PUBLIC MEETING-FATAL OBSERVATIONS. the Irish police? Sir, the instructions to the police in England are of a different character. We have been told, by many Con and, I think, by all the Liberal Unionist candidates, that what they desired was a similar treatment for Ireland and for England. The instructions to the police in England with reference to public meetings I will read from the orders to the police in London "In the case of public meetings the police are not to interfere with persons attending political meetings, unless specially ordered by the Commissioner that is, the Chief Commissioner. [An hon. MEMBER: Hear, hear!] Yes; and what we want to know is whether the SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Derby): Sir, it appears to me that it is not im-servative candidates at the last Election, proper to take this Constitutional opportunity of asking the attention of the House, and of demanding from Her Majesty's Government some explanation of the remarkable, and I will say deplorable, results of the policy which the Government are pursuing in Ireland, and especially with regard to the right of public meetings. When I first gave the Government Notice of my intention to call the attention of this House to the circumstances of their interference with public meeting, it was before the recent fatal events at Mitchelstown on Friday last. Upon that sub-interference on this occasion was ordered ject I feel the necessity and propriety of observing great reserve, from the fact that those events must necessarily become the subject of judicial inquiry; first of all, of the Coroner's inquest; and, secondly, it may be of a higher and more serious tribunal; but upon that unhappy event I will only say that, unfortunately, the history of this country and of other countries teaches us that such events as these are the usual and the necessary results of a violent and unconstitutional action on the part of the responsible Government of the Crown. The policy of coercion has, in former days, led to similar results in this country, and it is natural enough that it should bring forth the fruits of blood. You cannot expect to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles. Therefore, Sir, the only thing I can say is this-that the House, under those circumstances, is entitled to know what are the instructions which the Irish Government have given to the Irish VOL. CCCXXI. [THIRD SERIES.] by the head of the police in Ireland, in order that we may see whether there is similar treatment in Ireland and in England. The next instruction is "The police on duty at the entrance, and in streets near the public building where the meetinterfere, unless to suppress an actual breach ing is held, are not to enter the building or to of the peace, or to take into custody any person committing any act for which the police would be entitled to arrest him." Although confined in terms to political meetings, the above instructions are applied in practice to a great variety of bodies, and to meetings out-of-doors as well as indoors. Well, Sir, there is another question that I should like to ask. There has appeared in the papers to-day an announcement which I cannot but regard as a very grave one, and it is that the administration as Permanent Under Secretary in Ireland by Sir Redvers Buller has come to an end. It is a singular moment indeed for a person filling that responsible position to retire. L |