Commons Sitting of 7 September 1841

MINUTES.
Petitions presented. By Mr. West, from Dublin, against making the Poor-rates the test of Rating for Municipal purposes.
Election Petitions. Against the Elections for Thetford, Belfast, Nottingham (Town), Warcham, Neweastle-under-Lyne, Carlow, Lyme Regis, Merthyr Tydvil, Shrewsbury, Dowupatrick, Barnstaple, Harwich, Stafford (Boro'), St. Ives, Rutland, New Windsor (two.) Waterford, cy., and Carnarvon.

QUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS.
Mr. Greeneproposed the following resolutions, which were read by the Clerk at the Table:—
" 1. That every person elected and returned a Member of the House of Commons for any county, riding, or division of a county, or for any city, borough, or Cinque Port of England, Wales, or Ireland, or for the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, whose qualification is expressly objected to in any election petition, shall within fifteen days after the petition read, give to the clerk of the House of Commons a paper, signed by himself, containing the following particulars, that is to say—
" If the qualification of such Member shall arise wholly or in part out of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, then a rental or particular of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments, whereby he makes out such his qualification.
" If the qualification of such Member shall arise wholly or in part out of personal estate, then the particulars of such personal estate, and of the income arising there from, and upon what security and in whose names such personal estate is vested, and by whom the income thereof is payable: and that any person concerned may have a copy of such paper.
" 2. That of such lands, tenements, hereditaments, and personal estate, whereof the party hath not been in possession or receipt of the rents or income for three years before the election, he shall also insert in the same paper from what person, and by what conveyance, assignment, or act in law he claims and derives the same; and also the consideration, if any, paid for the same, and the names and places of abode of the witnesses to such conveyance, assignment, or act in law and payment.
" 3. That if any Member whose qualification is so objected to shall decline to defend his election or return, and if any other person shall be admitted to defend the same, such other person shall, within eight days after he shall be so admitted to defend the same, leave with the clerk of the House of Commons the like account, in writing, of the qualification of such Member as is required from a sitting Member.
" 4. That if any sitting Member whose election or return shall be petitioned against, or any party admitted to defend the election or return of such Member, shall think fit to question the qualification of any petitioner, claiming to have had a right to be elected or returned in the place of such Member, such sitting Member shall, within eight days after the petition read, and such other party within eight days after being admitted to defend the election or return, leave notice thereof in writing with the petitioner or his agent; and the petitioner shall in such case, within eight days after such notice, leave with the clerk of the House of Commons the like account, in writing, of his qualification, as is required for a Sitting Member."
Mr. C. Bullerwas of opinion, looking at the thin state of the House, that the question, which was undoubtedly important, could not then be satisfactorily discussed.
Mr. Hawesthought more time was required to consider what would be the effect of the resolution; and he begged leave to suggest that the subject be postponed.
Debate adjourned.—House adjourned.