Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 66. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether talking is now allowed in the workshops at His Majesty's convict and local prisons; and whether, in view of the varying practices which have prevailed in different prisons since the abolition of the silence rule, he will issue a Circular defining on what occasions talking should be permitted?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 67. asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks made by Mr. Justice Acton in the trial of William Arthur Edward Shillibeer, of Rotherhithe, at the Central Criminal Court, for murder, to the effect that it was quite clear that he was in the first instance wantonly and gratuitously insulted and provoked by a gang of boys gathered together for such purposes, and...
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: I rise to support the Amendment. The hon. and gallant Member who has just sat down welcomed the Bill, because it represents the creation of an Indian Navy, which is being handed over to the Government of India. The real question is this: Is this Bill creating an Indian Navy or is it creating a British Navy manned by Indians? If it be really creating an Indian Navy, then the hon. Member for...
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: Yes, because they were appealed to. The facts were put before them, and they had a free choice. They have not a free choice under this Bill, and that is what we are objecting to. We object to the power which is put into the hands of the Governor-General to declare an emergency. We know the kind of case that will be called an emergency. It will not be an Indian emergency, it will be an...
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: That was not my point at all. Of course, they had to carry out their instructions, and they went where they were sent. But the Indian people resent the power of this country, through the Governor-General of India, to send regiments overseas without consulting the people of India.
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 16. asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Home Member in the Burmese Legislative Council, in opposing the enfranchisement of Burmese women, in the course of which he said that the question could only be considered by the Statutory Commission; and whether this is the view of the Government?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 17. asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state how many prisoners at the Kingston penitentiary were flogged during the three months ending 30th September, 1925, and the three months ending 30th September, 1926, respectively?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 18. asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Commission of Inquiry appointed to inquire into the system of prison administration at Jamaica, with special reference to disturbances in the Kingston Penitentiary during August and September of 1926, has yet made a Report; and whether this Report will be published?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give with regard to the recent disturbances in Singapore?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: Would it not be possible to disperse a mob by other than lethal weapons? There have been many instances of dispersal in other ways.
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: Outside Shanghai!
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: There is a slight misprint there. I said "outside Shanghai," not inside.
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: Which part?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 8. asked the Home Secretary whether prisoners in Ms Majesty's prisons are informed that they have the right to complain to the governor of the prison if officers use foul language?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 9. asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that convict H. Smith, at His Majesty's detention prison, Camp Hill, in August, 1926, charged an officer with the use of foul language and that he was himself subsequently charged with making a false accusation against the officer; what sentence was inflicted upon him; whether, before being sentenced by the visiting justices, Smith had undergone...
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: How could they decide that no further evidence was necessary if they refused the prisoner the right to call further evidence?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 11. asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that over Christmas, 1026, the convicts at His Majesty's prison, Parkhurst, were locked in their cells, with the exception of an hour's exercise morning and afternoon, for four days; that no work was done by them during this time; that there was no service or celebration of any kind; and that permission to hold an afternoon concert on Christmas...
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 8. asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Bengal government has framed proposals, which have been under the consideration of the Government of India since 1924, for the separation of the executive and judicial functions; and whether he will state which provincial governments have not yet put forward their proposals with regard to this matter?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 13. asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to arrange with the Government of the Union of South Africa for an official representative of the Government of India to reside in South Africa to look after the interests of Indians there?
Mr Frederick Pethick-Lawrence: 60. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been recovered by His Majesty's Government from the Governments of the British Dominions or Dependencies since 11th November, 1918, in discharge of capital liabilities; what amount out of these has taken the form of the cancellation of mutual indebtedness; what amount has been put to revenue under special receipts; and what amount...