HC Deb 24 July 1862 vol 168 cc784-5
SIR GEORGE GREY

said, he regretted to find the Lords had agreed to an Amendment exempting veterinary surgeons and chemists from serving on juries. He had stated in Committee his objection to those exemptions, and he considered those objections had not been met in any way. Neither veterinary surgeons nor pharmaceutical chemists properly came within the general principle of exemption which applied to surgeons or physicians, who might be called upon at any moment to attend a patient. Besides, the pharmaceutical chemists were bound to keep an assistant qualified to make up medicines. If the exemption in question were granted to pharmaceutical chemists, ordinary chemists and druggists, who numbered over 40,000, would be coming next year to put in their claims. The exemption of those classes would only throw an additional burden on other Members of the community, and he should therefore move that the House do disagree with the Lords' Amendment.

SIR HENRY STRACEY

said, he regretted that the Amendment should be objected to. The pharmaceutical chemists were an educated body. He hoped the Amendment would be allowed to pass.

MR. R. HODGSON

said, the pharmaceutical chemists amounted to only some 2,000 and odd, and it was very desirable that they should be exempted.

MR. COLLINS

said he objected to their exemption, on the ground that the burden, if taken off the pharmaceutical chemists, would be thrown upon other persons.

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH

said, it had always been the policy of the House to encourage an educated class of chemists, and he hoped therefore the Lords' Amendment would be agreed to.

MR. NEWDEGATE

defended the principle of excluding veterinary surgeons from those juries, as they were a body of men of very high attainments, and who conferred great benefit upon the community.

Page 1, line 13, the first Amendment, read 2º

Motion made, and Question put, "That this House doth disagree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

The House divided:—Ayes 53; Noes 53:—

And the numbers being equal, Mr. Speaker stated that this House having passed the Bill in a certain form, and the Lords having made an Amendment which it had been proposed to disagree to, he should support the Bill as passed by this House; and he therefore declared himself with the Ayes.

Subsequent Amendments read 2º.

Several agreed to, and several disagreed to.

Committee appointed, To draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to the Amendments to which this House hath disagreed:"—Sir GEORGE GREY, Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH, Mr. BRAND, Mr. DODSON, and Mr. HUNT:—To withdraw immediately; Three to be the quorum.