HC Deb 09 February 1882 vol 266 cc339-40

MR. RICHARD moved— That Mr. Speaker do leave the Chair in order that leave may he given to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Cemeteries.

MR. CALLAN

said, he thought the hon. Member might explain the purpose for which he asked Mr. Speaker to leave the Chair, and whether the Bill he wished to bring in had any relation whatever to Burial Boards. He thought it was due to the House that the hon. Member should explain the object of the Bill. There were a large number of Roman Catholic cemeteries in England and Wales; and now that they had an aggressive Party in power, and seeing how the Radical Party valued liberty for themselves, but wished to tyrannize over others, he would like to have some explanation.

Motion agreed to.

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. O'DONNELL

said, he thought the hon. Member (Mr. Richard) might give some outline of his intentions. They might be of a most formidable character. Was this a Bill for the desecration of cemeteries? An appeal for some explanation had been made with Mr. Speaker in the Chair and treated with the courtesy of silence; but he thought that on the present occasion, in order to avoid further opposition, the hon. Member might remember that this appeal was legitimate curiosity. The views of the hon. Member were wide; but there were some exertions of his liberality which were not regarded as liberal by his opponents.

MR. RICHARD

said, the object of the Bill was to apply to cemetery arrangements generally the principle of the Burial Laws Amendment Act—namely, that the consecration or non-consecration of burial-grounds should not affect religious services, whether conducted by clergymen of the Church of England or Nonconformists.

Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Cemeteries.

Resolution reported:—Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. RICHARD, Mr. H. FOWLEK,, Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL, Mr. CALVE, and Mr. WOODALL.

Feb 10—Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 40.]