A spirited exchange took place in the House of Commons, sparked by a question concerning the absence of reported crimes in Limerick and the subsequent presentation of white gloves to judges as a symbol of this remarkable occurrence.

Mr Corbett, a member of the House, raised a question related to the matter. However, his initial query was inaudible to the Nationalist members, prompting them to loudly request him to speak up. Mr Corbett, turning towards the Irish benches, responded with determination, “I will.”

The Speaker of the House intervened promptly, maintaining order and reminding Mr Corbett that he should address the Chair and not engage in direct exchanges with other members. This light-hearted interruption elicited laughter from those present.

Undeterred, Mr Corbett attempted to explain that the reason behind the judges’ receipt of white gloves was that the criminals in question had not been apprehended. This statement garnered reactions of “Oh, oh” from some members.

Mr Bryce, a prominent figure in the House, then weighed in on the matter. He emphasized that even if it were the case that a criminal had managed to escape detection, the state of the calendar, which presumably showed a lack of criminal cases, could still be considered satisfactory evidence of a general improvement in the state of the country. His statement received approval in the form of “Hear, hear” from others present.

This exchange in the House of Commons highlighted the intriguing and often spirited discussions that could arise even from seemingly mundane topics, shedding light on the diverse interests and concerns of its members.

Dundee Courier – Wednesday 11 July 1906