THE PARNELL ENQUIRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2503, 26 July 1888, Page 2

THE PARNELL ENQUIRY.

(By Elkothio Tklkghaph.—Coptkight.] London, July 24. In the House of Commons the Right Hon. Mr Smith proposal that the Commission to enquire into the charges against Mr Purnell should consist of the liiglit Hon. Sir James Hannen, President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Courts, and Justices Sir Chas. Day and Sir Archibald Levin-Smith, of the Queen's Bench Division. Mr Parnell declared that the Government intended inquiring not into his conduct alone but into the actions of the National League in Great Britain, Ireland and America. They could believe ho would emerge with his character untarnished. The Commission shouid be confined to enquiring into charges against spacilic members of Parliament, and all other persons should be excluded from its scope. Mr Gladstone insisted that only definite charges should be enquired into, and the authenticity of the letters produced at the trial was the main charge. He doubted if the Commission would command implicit confidence. Mr Matthews thought the gravest charge was whether it was true that Mr Parnell's political party was in close alliance with those who had planned outrages. He considered the omission of other persons from the scope of the Commission would reduce the enquiry to a farce. Sir Charles Russell said the tribunal as proposed was unfair, unworkable and interminable. He would prefer that the charges be enquired into by a partisan London Mr O'Connor, M.P. for South Liverpool, said the Irish party objected to the Commission enquiring into the history of the League. The debate was adjourned until next day.